UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television

Overview

The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (TFT) is one of the premier film programs in the United States, consistently ranked alongside USC and AFI as a top destination for aspiring filmmakers. As part of a public research university, UCLA TFT offers an education that combines rigorous production training with the breadth of a major university curriculum, including access to programs in business, law, and the sciences.

The school sits on the UCLA campus in Westwood, placing students in the heart of the Los Angeles entertainment ecosystem. TFT maintains close relationships with studios, production companies, and guilds across the city. The school's graduate screenwriting and directing programs are particularly renowned, and its animation program has grown significantly in recent years.

UCLA TFT houses the UCLA Film and Television Archive, one of the largest archives of moving image materials in the world, with over 450,000 film and television titles. This resource gives students and scholars access to a vast collection of historical and contemporary work.

Programs Offered

• BA in Film and Television -- a four-year undergraduate program covering production, screenwriting, and critical studies
• MFA in Screenwriting -- a two-year graduate program widely regarded as one of the strongest screenwriting programs in the country
• MFA in Directing -- a small, highly selective program that admits fewer than 20 students per year
• MFA in Producing -- covers development, financing, production management, and distribution
• MFA in Cinematography -- visual storytelling, camera operation, and lighting design
• MFA in Animation -- both 2D and 3D animation, with ties to Los Angeles studios
• PhD in Film, Television, and Digital Media -- a scholarly program in cinema and media studies

What Students Should Know

UCLA TFT is a public university, which means tuition is significantly lower for California residents than at private institutions like USC or AFI. In-state graduate tuition is approximately $18,000 per year, while out-of-state tuition is closer to $33,000. This makes UCLA one of the most affordable top-tier film programs in the country for qualifying students.

The MFA in Directing is one of the most competitive graduate programs in the arts, with an acceptance rate well under 5%. The screenwriting MFA is similarly selective. Both programs emphasize mentorship, with small cohorts working closely with faculty who are active in the industry.

UCLA's undergraduate film program is larger and gives students a broad foundation before they specialize. Unlike conservatory programs, UCLA requires general education coursework alongside production classes, which some students view as a strength and others as a distraction from filmmaking.

The school's location in Los Angeles provides unmatched internship and networking opportunities. UCLA TFT graduates regularly enter the industry through relationships built during their studies, and the school's alumni network, while smaller than USC's, is active and supportive.

Notable Alumni

UCLA TFT alumni include Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants), Justin Lin (Fast & Furious franchise), Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th), Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption). The school has also produced many working screenwriters, showrunners, and producers in television.

See Also

For comparing the financial structure of public vs. private film programs, see Film School Costs Explained. To plan your student production budget, use the Production Budget Calculator.