nwFilmCenter | School of Film

School of Film

The Northwest Film Center's School of Film, one of the largest community-based film arts programs in the country, offers the Northwest's most comprehensive curriculum in media production and appreciation. Since its founding in 1972, the School has helped thousands of individuals to find and cultivate their personal voices as storytellers, and to help create community around cinema's potential to advance cultural understanding, reflect the human experience, and fuel social change.

Its long-standing reputation as a leader in media arts education rests on its dynamic faculty of working filmmakers, emphasis on hands-on learning, open enrollment policy, and unique learning environment. In tandem with the Center's year-round Exhibition Program, students learn to make films while having the opportunity to see some of the most current and significant independent cinema available.

Among the School's students are: fine artists, writers, and other creatives interested in augmenting their artistic practice with film; professionals in education, marketing, business, and other fields seeking professional development; those enrolled in participating cooperative degree programs or who are contemplating post-graduate study in film; emerging filmmakers who are in the process of creating a body of work for public exhibition; and avocational adult learners who simply desire personal enrichment through a structured program.

Enrollment & Curriculum
The School's classes, workshops, and visiting artist programs are open to the general public on a first-come basis, throughout the calendar year. Enrollment is by interest. There is no formal admission process. There are two 14-week semesters (Fall & Winter) and two 10-week terms (Spring & Summer). Short-term and weekend workshops are ongoing.

Individuals may enroll in any offering at any time without further commitment, or they have the option of advancing at their own pace toward earning one of the School's three Certificates of Completion. Most students enroll in one course at a time, some in two. Enrolling in more than two classes is highly discouraged due to the significant outside time required.

The general curriculum teaches the basic hands-on skills of media production, and explores the different styles of filmmaking (documentary, experimental, narrative) and their creative intersections. Students may experience firsthand how the moving image has evolved over time; even at the beginning level, there is the opportunity to work in traditional analog (film) as well as contemporary digital (video) technologies. Through hands-on, small group, and individual projects, students use their skills to begin telling relevant stories in their own creative voice, initiating the process of building a body of work (portfolio), and of creating the collateral tools for practice as a media artist.

Tuition & Fees
School of Film tuition and fees are charged on a per class basis. Individual class descriptions indicate the amount for each offering. In some courses, equipment is provided; in others, basic equipment (e.g. digital video camera) may be rented from the Equipment Room at a special rate. See individual course descriptions for details. Equipment is provided through the listed equipment/lab fee unless otherwise stated. Additional fees may be charged if equipment is returned late, damaged, or lost. Textbooks may be suggested or required for certain courses. Film/processing, tape stock, flash cards, media drives, and/or art supplies are often each student's responsibility and will vary in cost depending on the nature of the work undertaken.