The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) climbed 15 places to land at No. 9 overall in The Wrap’s latest ranking of the country’s Top 50 Film Schools. This marks the School’s highest-ever placement in the rankings, which are published annually by The Wrap, a leading news organization that covers the business of entertainment and media. The U of A school, housed in the College of Fine Arts, is now the No. 2 public film school in the United States, behind only UCLA.
Released on Nov. 4, the publication offers “insights into the schools that shape the future of the film industry for prospective film students, parents, and industry professionals.” This year The Wrap partnered with entertainment industry data research company Screen engine/ASI to create a more data-driven, less subjective way to review more than 60 colleges and universities.
Among the key factors considered were retention and graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, breadth of film/TV/media classes offered, and the number of films that students make over the course of their studies. Additional consideration was given to the school’s credentialed guest speakers, distinctions and awards won, and notable alumni and their accomplishments.
At the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Student Production Awards in September, TFTV had a record showing with seven nominees across multiple categories and three award wins by senior thesis filmmakers in the categories of Editing, Cinematography, and Performance.
Work by TFTV students is gaining recognition around the globe: with individual mentorship and strategy provided by the School’s Festivals and Awards office, in recent years films by students and emerging alumni have screened at festivals ranging from New York’s Urbanworld to Palm Springs ShortFest to London’s BFI Flare and this summer’s San Diego Comic-Con.
The Wrap mentioned several highlights for the school.
- The school has announced a special mentorship project with U of A alumnus, actor and industry icon Craig T. Nelson (Parenthood, Young Sheldon, The Incredibles). Next year, Nelson will act in a senior thesis film and share his decades of industry experience with the film’s director, cast and crew as a collaborator.
- TFTV will roll out a new headquarters in Los Angeles, providing critical career programming and production support for students and alumni.
- Newer faculty are gaining national attention, including Diego Moreno, an adjunct instructor who has signed a script development deal with Netflix as a part of its Created By Initiative for underrepresented writers. Orquidea Morales, whose research focuses on border violence, horror and Latinx media, has had her work appear in Film Quarterly and co-hosts the popular podcast Monstras, which explores Latin American and Latinx folklore. The podcast has been downloaded more than 66,000 times.
At the third annual trip to the Sundance Film Festival in 2025, funded by the school’s Hanson FilmTV Institute, ten students will get an immersive, behind-the-scenes experience as part of the festival’s official volunteer team. They’ll also connect with alumni filmmakers at the festival – in 2024, attending alumni included cinematographer Brody Anderson, whose film Flail screened in the Shorts program, festival juror Christina Oh (Minari, Ad Astra) and long-time Sundance Collab partner, casting director Eyde Belasco.
TFTV is also coordinating a trip to Los Angeles for a cohort of students to join the official volunteer team and gain high-level industry experience at the Independent Spirit Awards, a major event of the Hollywood awards season.
With its hands-on and personalized approach, TFTV offers the next generation of filmmakers and film professionals opportunities to collaborate and learn across disciplines while providing direct pathways to careers in a rapidly evolving industry with the help of an extensive network of alumni. BA students can apply the producing skills they learn in their program as producers on BFA short films. BFA students can tailor their thesis films to any production area, from writing/directing to cinematography and sound design. All majors may work on multiple film sets per year both inside and outside of classes and can collaborate with students in the school’s acting program, the design and technical production program, and the new live and screened performance program. The staff and faculty of award-winning working filmmakers, industry veterans and published scholars mentor students closely in small class sizes on everything from project development to the public launch of their films (the School’s thesis film showcase I Dream in Widescreen is attended by 1,000 guests annually) and guiding them on their festival and career strategies through innovative programs and industry partnerships.