Welcome

 

Welcome to the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV), one of the most dynamic and innovative programs in the United States. We bring together theatre with film and television in an integrated approach - preparing you to become a versatile storyteller across stage, screen, and emerging media.

 

Our Live & Screened Performance program equips students with cross-platform skills in acting, directing, writing, stage design, management, and dramaturgy for both live and recorded media. Thanks to our programs in Film & Television, TFTV is ranked the No. 2 public film school in the U.S. by The Wrap, offering hands-on training alongside academic grounding in critical studies and courses in the art and business of storytelling.

 

At TFTV, you’ll learn directly from world-renowned scholars, award-winning creators, and industry professionals from across academia, the arts, and entertainment. Regular guest artists and insiders from the field don’t just visit — they mentor, collaborate, and connect you to real-world opportunities, including internships. It’s more than education — it’s an immersive experience that launches your career.

 

Our FTV LA initiative, in partnership with Film Independent, offers unique access to the Los Angeles entertainment industry—screenings, networking events, workspace, and eligibility for prestigious fellowships like Project Involve.

 

Our home in Tucson, Arizona, offers more than a stunning desert landscape: it hosts a vibrant cultural scene with repertory and art theaters, film festivals, and permanent theatrical showcases. TFTV also produces numerous student-led performances, including live musical theater, fostering collaboration across disciplines.

 

We’re proud to be the only National Top 10-ranked film school that combines theatre with film and television into a collaborative and cohesive learning experience. This rare model ensures that you graduate not only in the medium of your choice, but with cross-disciplinary training that expands your creative and professional possibilities.

 

At TFTV, you’ll find a supportive, challenging, and inclusive space for artistic exploration—just steps from the mountains and a short trip to the heart of the entertainment industry.

 

Dr. Frances Gateward
Director

Events

Performance Season

Vanities: The Musical Venue: Marroney Theatre September 28, 2025 to October 12, 2025

Screening Events

What’s Up, Docs? Venue: Marroney Theatre December 16, 2025 at 7:00pm

Workshop Productions

The Climate Project Venue: Tornabene Theatre September 25, 2025 to September 28, 2025

News

Applications are now open for the School of Theatre, Film & Television’s 2026 Sundance Film Festival Student Trip

Senior Film & Television BA and BFA majors are invited to apply for TFTV’s fourth annual Sundance Film Festival Student Trip, taking place January 23-30, 2026. The purpose… More

From Improv to Impact: Hope Baker’s Rise as a Voice for Authentic Representation

Hope Baker (BA ’22, Communications with a Theatre minor) is an actor, writer, and advocate whose creative journey took root at the University of Arizona School of Theatre,… More

TFTV Achieves Clean Sweep at 2025 NATAS Student Production Awards

The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) at the University of Arizona is celebrating an extraordinary achievement: a clean sweep at the 2025 NATAS Student Production Awards,… More

Featured Faculty & Staff

Barbara Selznick Associate Professor

Dr. Barbara Selznick, Associate Professor, received her doctorate from Northwestern University’s Department of Radio-Television-Film in 1997. Dr. Selznick’s research examines how films and television series are shaped by… More

Hannah Meyer Academic Advisor

Hannah is a native Midwesterner who joined the College of Fine Arts in 2023. She works with students in the School of Theatre, Film & Television, advising majors and… More

James Pack Scenic Shop Manager

James Pack is a graduate of Full Sail University with a Master of Science in Entertainment Business. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona majoring… More

Student Work

UA FTV Fiction Films

Our students' films have gained recognition at the world's top films festivals, including the Berlin Intl. Film Festival and Sundance, and feature stellar performances from rising stars in the Theatre programs. BA and BFA students in the film program work collaboratively on films, with BA students applying skills learned in producing and studies courses to lead projects in the producer role. Magic Hour and I Dream in Widescreen are the popular showcases for fiction produced in the program. More

Design Tech Showcase Reveals Secrets

Every year, the school brings agents, professional designers and production specialists to campus to view the work of our actors and design and technology students. The annual Showcase of Talent offers our students a valuable next step into the business and direct access to industry professionals. More

UA FTV Documentaries

Our production students gain experience in documentary, and are taught by working filmmakers whose films can be seen on HBO, Netflix, and PBS. The documentary work is original and eclectic, and reflects the rich culture of Tucson. Student work is regularly showcased at What’s up, Docs at The Loft Cinema and at I Dream in Widescreen, the gala event of BFA senior thesis films that regularly draws crowds of over 1000 to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre. More

Take a virtual tour of the University of Arizona

Take a quick virtual tour of the Fine Arts District and the rest of the UA Campus, click here.

Alumni Spotlight

Clayton Lukens (’24) joins North American tour of ‘The Book of Mormon’ 

School of Theatre, Film & Television alum Clayton Lukens (BFA Musical Theatre, ’24) was recently selected to join the national touring company of The Book of Mormon. Over… More

TFTV alumni filmmakers Justin Martinez and Ben Turner debut latest installment of ‘V/H/S’ horror film series

TFTV alumni Justin Martinez (BFA, ’04) and Ben Turner (BFA ’03) are the creative talents behind Live and Let Dive, a nail-biting segment of V/H/S Beyond, the horror… More

TFTV Alum Craig T. Nelson returns to campus to celebrate reopening of Marroney Theatre and stage that now bears his name

Last week the School of Theatre, Film & Television welcomed alum Craig T. Nelson back to campus for the re-opening of the Marroney Theatre. The storied actor, writer,… More

Instagram

The semester is in full swing here at @uatheatrefilmtv! Under the leadership of our new school director, Dr. Frances Gateward, classes, rehearsals, clubs, events, and more are sparking creativity and hands-on learning.

Students Scarlett Manzo, Alena Maestas, and Sophie Bartholomew-Gonzales are seen here working on their draping skills in Associate Professor Rick Tuckett’s class on Pattern Drafting and Draping for the Entertainment Industry.

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In the decade since graduating from @uatheatrefilmtv, BFA Acting alumni Brenna DiStasio (‘15) and Paul Michael Thomson (‘15) have amassed impressive bodies of work across stage, screen, teaching, and playwriting. They have also brought to life a dream they’ve held since their TFTV years: they are the co-founders of @thestorytheatre in Chicago, an adventurous storefront theatre dedicated to doing things differently.

This summer, The Story Theatre was honored with the @BroadwayInChicago 2025 Emerging Theatre Award, the annual award presented by the League of Chicago Theatres to recognize and promote young Chicago-based theatres demonstrating artistic excellence, innovation, and responsible business practices. The Story Theatre received the recognition for its commitment to artistic innovation, collective leadership, and radical imagination.

Read more about their journeys and the founding of The Story Theatre at the link in our bio. 

Congratulations, Brenna and Paul Michael! Bear Down!

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🎉 CLEAN SWEEP at the 2025 NATAS Student Production Awards! 🎉
TFTV filmmakers won every single category they were nominated in at the awards ceremony this past weekend — an incredible achievement that showcases their outstanding talent and the mentorship they receive at @uatheatrefilmtv. Huge thanks to @RockyMountainEmmy and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and CONGRATULATIONS to our winners!

Best Writer – Nostalgiathon ‘99
Cailan Compierchio, Sophia Harrigan

Best Director – Parallel Lines
Neylani Castro

Best Editor – Universe Academy
Daniel Cadena, Andy Mourelatos

Best Audio/Sound – The World We Live In
Xander Maniece, Brady McDowell

Best Photographer – The Grit of It All
Alek Mendez

Best Fiction Short Form – Play Pretend
Jordan Fouts

We’re beyond proud of #TeamTFTV 💙❤️ Bear down! 

🎥: @saguaroheights

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