Griffith Film School

Overview

Griffith Film School (GFS) is the largest dedicated film school in Australia, operating within Griffith University at the South Bank campus in Brisbane's cultural precinct. Established in 2004, the school enrolled approximately 3,500 students across its creative disciplines and joined CILECT (the International Association of Film and Television Schools) in 2005. Domestic students pay AUD $9,537 per EFTSL in 2026, with HECS-HELP loan deferral available.

The school's core differentiator is LiveLab, its in-house commercial production studio. GFS is the only film school in Australia with a permanent commercial production arm. LiveLab takes on client-funded projects, and students work on them in paid or internship roles alongside professional crew. Projects from LiveLab have won awards at the New York Festivals Best of TV and Film Awards.

In 2025, Griffith announced a new Diploma of Technical Screen Production, launching in 2026. The diploma marks the school's first expansion to the Gold Coast campus, with formal agreements signed with Village Roadshow Studios and Invest Gold Coast. GFS also launched a new major in Virtual Production, integrating real-time game engine filmmaking and immersive set design.

History

Griffith University established the Griffith Film School in 2004 at the South Bank campus in Brisbane. The school joined CILECT in 2005, connecting it to the international film school community. GFS sits alongside the Queensland College of Art and Design and the Queensland Conservatorium, giving film students direct access to cross-disciplinary collaborators.

Key milestones include the launch of LiveLab as a permanent commercial production arm, the 2018 New York Festivals awards for LiveLab projects, and the 2025 announcement of the Gold Coast campus expansion with Village Roadshow Studios. The Bachelor of Animation was ranked number 9 globally in the 2024 Animation Career Review rankings.

Programs Offered

• Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production - 3 years, full-time. Covers directing, producing, cinematography, editing, sound, and screen entrepreneurship. Guaranteed ATAR/Rank entry at 75.00. Intakes in February, July, and November.
• Bachelor of Animation - 3 years. 2D and 3D animation with industry-standard software. Ranked number 9 globally in 2024 Animation Career Review. Admission is primarily by portfolio.
• Bachelor of Game Design and Production - 3 years. Interactive design and virtual world creation. Guaranteed ATAR/Rank of 70.00.
• Diploma of Technical Screen Production - New for 2026. Hands-on technical training for below-the-line crew roles, developed with Village Roadshow Studios.
• Master of Screen Production - Graduate production program for advanced practitioners.
• Master of Cinematic Arts - Research and collaborative projects in animation, film, or games.
• Graduate Certificate in Screen Production - Shorter graduate-level qualification.
• PhD in Screen Production - Practice-based doctoral research.

The Bachelor of Animation ranks as the most competitive program, with portfolio-based admission and a global top 10 ranking.

Notable Alumni and What They've Made

• Angie Fielder - Producer of Lion (2016), which received six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. Also produced Penguin Bloom (2020) starring Naomi Watts.
• Matthew Schofield - Storyboard director for The Simpsons.
• Aaron Winterhoff - Games designer at EA Games.

GFS alumni work across the Australian film and television industries, with particular concentration in Queensland's production community and in technical roles on international productions shooting at Village Roadshow Studios.

Acceptance Rate

GFS does not publish an overall acceptance rate. The Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production offers a guaranteed ATAR/Rank of 75.00 for domestic students. If you achieve 75.00 or higher and meet basic entry requirements, you receive an offer.

The Bachelor of Animation uses a portfolio-based admission process with limited ATAR/Rank places available. This makes Animation the most competitive program, as the portfolio must demonstrate artistic skill and creative vision.

International students must apply through the international application process and meet English proficiency requirements. The portfolio submission fee is AUD $55, payable via GriffithPay.

Standout Faculty

GFS faculty includes industry professionals and academic leaders:

• Richard Fabb - Creative Director of LiveLab. Oversees the commercial production arm that gives students paid industry experience during their studies. Under his direction, LiveLab projects have won New York Festivals awards.
• Dr. Paul Mason - Animation faculty. Supervises student animation productions including adaptations of his graphic novel series FLOCK.
• Sean Gilligan - Sessional lecturer. Supervised the musical theatre showcase clip that won gold at the New York Festivals Best of TV and Film Awards.
• Amelia Paxman - LiveLab supervisor. Manages student crews on commercial productions including election coverage and social issue documentaries.

Tuition / Aid Reality

Domestic students: The Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). The 2026 student contribution is AUD $9,537 per EFTSL (Band 2, Visual and Performing Arts). Eligible students can defer payment through the HECS-HELP loan scheme. The portfolio submission fee is AUD $55.

International students: Tuition for the Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production is approximately AUD $32,500 to $34,500 per year, depending on the fee band. The application fee is AUD $50.

Cost of living: Brisbane's cost of living is lower than Sydney or Melbourne. Estimated annual living costs range from AUD $21,000 to $27,000, covering rent, food, transport, and incidentals. South Bank is well-served by public transport.

Domestic students access HECS-HELP federal loans, making GFS one of the most affordable film school options for Australian citizens. International students pay full fee rates.

Facilities and Equipment

GFS operates from the South Bank campus, which houses:

• Industry-standard post-production labs and editing suites
• A 92-seat cinema with industry-grade projection and sound-mixing technology
• TV studios
• Stop motion studios
• Sound recording studios
• LiveLab commercial production studio

The Virtual Production major gives students access to real-time game engine filmmaking tools and immersive set design technology. The Gold Coast expansion (from 2026) will place diploma students near Village Roadshow Studios, which has 9 sound stages, 3 water tanks, and 15,380 square meters of floor space. Productions shot there include Aquaman, Thor: Ragnarok, and Elvis.

Student Film Examples

GFS student films screen at festivals and win awards:

• *Pappouli* (2026) - Won Best Emerge! Student Short Film at the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival. Directed by Eddie Teow, Jasmine Bemet, and Oliver Sendall.
• LiveLab projects have won gold and silver at the New York Festivals Best of TV and Film Awards, including a stop-motion film for the Queensland Conservatorium's musical theatre showcase.
• Student animation *DANCE: A FLOCK Story* (2025) - Directed by Stephen Liu. Shortlisted for Best Animation at the Australia Youth Film Festival 2026. Adapted from Dr. Paul Mason's FLOCK graphic novel series.

What Filmmakers Should Know

LiveLab provides a direct bridge between study and paid work. Students and alumni work on commercial projects in paid or internship roles for camera work, post-production, and production. The studio has collaborated with Indigenous filmmaker Douglas Watkin, former head of Indigenous content at Screen Queensland.

Queensland's screen industry has grown substantially, driven by state tax incentives and infrastructure at Village Roadshow Studios. International productions shooting in the region create direct employment pathways for GFS graduates, particularly in below-the-line roles. The Diploma of Technical Screen Production was developed specifically in response to crew shortages identified by Village Roadshow Studios and Screen Queensland.

The key trade-off: GFS offers strong industry connections and practical experience through LiveLab, but its academic reputation does not match dedicated conservatory programs like AFTRS or VCA. Students seeking intensive artistic development may find the university structure less focused than a dedicated film school. However, the Gold Coast expansion and Virtual Production major signal GFS's commitment to technical, industry-ready training.

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See Also

For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To estimate total education costs including living expenses, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For industry placement rates at top film schools, see Best Industry Placement Rates.