Información
One Year Curriculum
Vancouver Film School was founded on the philosophy that one year of concentrated production work combined with industry-led theory is more valuable than four years of purely theoretical instruction. This unique educational model has proven to be successful across our 13 programs, allowing students to achieve more in one year - or less - than at any other school.
In 12 months or less, students receive a rigorous and comprehensive education including lectures, tutorials, productions, collaborations with other departments, mentorship with working professionals, and insight from guest speakers.
The keys to the VFS model are intensity and structure: there's no such thing as "down time" during a year at VFS - unlike university and college educations, each term, each week, each day is filled with learning and creating. And rather than picking and choosing from a variety of courses, your VFS education is carefully designed so that the courses and projects in each term build directly upon what you learned the term before.
This is why one intensive year at VFS is the equivalent of a 3 or 4 year program at another academic institution. It's also what makes a VFS education perfect for students who don't want to spend a lot of time in school before starting their careers in the entertainment industry.
Led by Industry
Our faculty are working professionals. They bring the real-world experience you rarely find in tenured academics, who are just too far removed from the real world to help emerging artists succeed. In many programs, courses are scheduled around faculty members who are working on major productions during the day.
VFS instructors and Heads of Department have won Emmys, have been nominated for Oscars, and have worked on independent projects and with major studios like ILM, Pixar, Paramount, EMI, PDI/Dreamworks, BioWare, PolyGram, and EA. Instructors' ongoing ties to industry means that they are your first and often most valuable business network - consider this your year-long job interview.
Our Advisory Boards, which include some of the leading minds in their fields, help shape the curriculum to keep programs up to speed with current industry practices and needs.
Results Matter
At VFS, results matter: the work you create while you're here, as well as success in your chosen field.
In one year or less, VFS students create a professional-quality film, reel, or portfolio that demonstrates their abilities and talent. VFS films have been screened at major festivals around the world, including Cannes, Siggraph, and Tribeca. Design pieces have won awards at international festivals such as Animex and MI6. And hundreds of student pieces have been viewed by literally millions of fans on VFS's YouTube Channel.
And their amazing work leads to serious achievements: VFS alumni have won Oscars, Emmys, and Independent Spirit Awards; they work for companies like Pixar, Lucasfilm, Electronic Arts, and Blizzard Entertainment; and over the last 20 years, they've contributed to more major films, TV shows, and video games than we can count. From blockbusters to the art house, international design firms to small studios, VFS graduates have made - and continue to make - their mark on the arts and entertainment industries.
Living and Creating in Vancouver
In 2009, Vancouver was named the world's #1 most livable city by The Economist.* VFS is located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, and plays an integral part of a booming arts industry that includes game companies, design firms, film production, and live music venues all within walking distance.
Downtown, you'll be near the ocean, with easy access to beaches and parks, while mountains for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking are only a short distance away. Vancouver is also a diverse, cosmopolitan city, alive with culture, entertainment, and art.
Vancouver is often called Hollywood North for its thriving industries in film, TV, animation, design, video games, and sound production. The result is you have access to the industry while you're still in school - instructors who are also currently working in the industry, as well as experienced and connected mentors and top guest speakers.
Plus, opportunities abound for work when you graduate. With VFS's ties to studios and companies, as well as the professionals you've met during your year, you'll have a huge advantage when it's time to get your career started.