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. 4 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

Love and Information Venue: Tornabene Theatre November 16, 2025 to December 7, 2025

Screening Events

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

Workshop Productions

New Directions Festival Venue: Tornabene Theatre March 26, 2026 to March 29, 2026

News

Innovative Theatre Meets Film in School of Theatre, Film & Television’s production of ‘Love and Information’

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) proudly presents the next production in its 2025/26 Performance Season, Love and Information. This sharp,… More

TFTV Ranked No. 4 Public Film School in The Wrap’s Top 50 Film Schools of 2025

The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) is ranked No. 4 among public film schools by The Wrap, which released its annual “Top 50… More

Designing Dreams: How a Theatre Arts Minor Led Eric Stewart (’25) to Walt Disney Imagineering

When Mechanical Engineering major and Theatre Arts minor Eric Stewart first arrived at the University of Arizona, he wasn’t sure how his love for theatre would fit into a… More

Featured Faculty & Staff

Orquidea Morales Assistant Professor

Dr. Orquidea Morales is an assistant professor in the School of Theatre, Film, and Television at the University of Arizona. Her work on border violence, Latine media, and… More

Jordan Lorsung Marketing Specialist

Jordan Lorsung is the Associate Marketing Specialist at the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV). She is a University of Minnesota graduate and has… 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

Alumni Spotlight

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

Sydney Townsend (‘25) Joins the Cast of Alicia Keys’ Critically Acclaimed ‘Hell’s Kitchen’

As she prepared to graduate last spring, Sydney Townsend (BFA Musical Theatre, ’25) was also navigating a major career milestone: auditioning for the national tour of Hell’s Kitchen,… More

From TFTV to Comic-Con: Student Film ‘Active Imagination’ Inspires Audiences

Each year at Comic-Con, the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival (SDICFF) presents a curated collection of films for audiences of all ages. As well as showcasing high-quality… 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.

Instagram

The Loft Film Fest is in full swing, and @uatheatrefilmtv is proud to celebrate numerous alumni filmmakers featured in this year’s lineup.

Today, Colleen Thurston (’08) presented her powerful and deeply personal documentary Drowned Land, which amplifies the voices of Choctaw culture-keepers, local activists, residents, and scientists fighting to protect the Kiamichi River and water rights.

After the screening, Colleen was thrilled to reunite with her early mentor, TFTV’s Prof. Beverly Seckinger, whose classes she says influenced her career the most.

Drowned Land screens again at The Loft Cinema on Wednesday, November 12 at 2:45 PM - don’t miss it.

...

84 1