Robert Hollywood Jenkins

AFI Conservatory Ranked #1 Film School in the World by The Hollywood Reporter

/PRNewswire/ -- The AFI Conservatory, a founding program of the American Film Institute, was voted the #1 film school in the world by The Hollywood Reporter.  AFI's unique curriculum is world-renowned, centered on a hands-on, production-based training environment where Fellows (AFI's reference to students) collaborate to make films.  Utilizing a European Conservatory model of small class sizes and learning by doing, Fellows enter the program with a focus on a specific filmmaking discipline.  

The Hollywood Reporter's inaugural list and ranking of worldwide film schools called AFI Conservatory "among the most selective film schools in America," with its Fellows benefiting from "speakers and teachers drawn from the highest levels of the industry, supported by the full weight of AFI itself...AFI's glittering parade of alumni, from , remains unrivaled when it comes to auteur filmmakers...If you know where you're going, AFI can get you there."  The Hollywood Reporter's list was developed with the help from entertainment industry insiders, including executives and filmmakers, as well as film school graduates.  Schools were rated based on a range of criteria such as alumni, cost, facilities, industry access and strength of faculty.  

"AFI's faculty, staff and Trustees dedicate themselves tirelessly to our Fellows' success, and it is extremely affirming to be recognized in this way," said (TOP CHEF, cinematography class of 1998).

Established in 1969, the two-year Master of Fine Arts program provides training in six filmmaking disciplines: Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing, Production Design and Screenwriting.  Mirroring a professional production environment, Fellows collaborate to make more films than any other graduate level program.  Admission to AFI Conservatory is highly selective, with a maximum of only 140 graduates per year.

AFI alumni are among today's entertainment luminaries and include esteemed filmmakers such as Directors (THE SOCIAL NETWORK).

In addition, recent alumni continue to draw recognition.  AFI Class of 2010 Directing Fellow Julian Higgins was awarded the top narrative prize (Gold Medal) at the 38th Annual Student Academy Awards in June for his AFI Conservatory thesis film, THIEF, and the film also won top honors at the 32nd College Television Awards in April.

Additional information about AFI is available at  AFI.com .