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California Institute of the Arts campus — CalArts , Valencia, California , USA.
CalArts , Valencia, California , USA. · Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0 · source
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CAPrivate nonprofitSchool of Film/Video - Program in Film and Video · School of Film/Video - Film Directing Program · School of Film/Video

CalArts' School of Film/Video offers a four-year BFA and a three-year MFA in Film and Video, oriented toward independent, experimental and documentary practice, and a three-year MFA in Film Directing focused on narrative filmmaking. Animation programs are offered in the same school. Tuition for 2026-27 is a single full-time rate for BFA and MFA programs.

Eligible film degrees

Each program has its own page with admissions, tuition, production costs, funding and sources. Tuition, admissions and facilities of one program do not apply to the others.

Film ProductionFilm StudiesFilm DirectingScreenwriting

California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

BFA Film and Video

BFABachelor of Fine Arts - Film and Video
Location: Valencia, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Studies (broader film degree)
Duration: Four years
Funding: Funding not verified
Tuition: $62,954 per academic year · All students — Full-time BFA and MFA programs · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View program
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

MFA Film and Video

MFAMaster of Fine Arts - Film and Video
Location: Valencia, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Production (dedicated degree) · Film Studies (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $62,954 per academic year · All students — Full-time BFA and MFA programs · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

MFA Film Directing

MFAMaster of Fine Arts - Film Directing
Location: Valencia, CA
Format: On campusClasses, workshops and productions meet in person on campus.
Fields: Film Directing (dedicated degree) · Film Production (broader film degree) · Screenwriting (broader film degree)
Duration: Three years
Funding: Partial funding
Tuition: $62,954 per academic year · All students — Full-time BFA and MFA programs · 2026-2027
Deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
View programSelected in: Top Film Directing Schools, Top Film Schools in the USA, Top MFA in Filmmaking Programs in the USA

Offerings we reviewed but do not list

This directory lists eligible film degrees only. These related offerings were checked against official pages and fall outside that scope (for example certificates, minors, acting-only or animation-only degrees).
  • BFA Character Animation (Bachelor of Fine Arts - Character Animation)Animation-only degree without a live-action film pathway.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • BFA / MFA Experimental AnimationAnimation degrees without a film production, directing or cinematography pathway.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • MFA ProducingProducing MFA in the School of Theater (performing arts), not a film producing degree.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Facilities and student showcases

Only what the school documents on its own pages. Access to facilities can differ by program and level — see each program page.

Official student showcases

Verified facilities

  • Bijou Theater125-seat screening theater with digital cinema, 16mm and 35mm projection.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • Louis B. Mayer Permanent Set35x39-foot interior set used for staging, lighting and cinematography classes; available outside class.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • Film Directing Studio39x36-foot studio in the Steven Spielberg Sound Stage for directing actors, with two digital camera packages.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • Black & White Studio39x47-foot studio with a permanent hard cyclorama.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • 16mm production and post-productionFacilities for shooting, editing and processing 16mm film.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  • Sound facilitiesPro Tools-based recording, editing and mixing rooms.Source: calarts.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Institution

Official name
California Institute of the Arts
Control
Private nonprofit
Source: nces.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026
Institutional accreditation
Not verified
Address
24700 W McBean Pky, Valencia, CA 91355-2397
Source: nces.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026
Website

Sources

Last verified October 12, 2026. Program facts and their sources are on each program page.
  1. IPEDS 2024–25 Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), via College Navigator — U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), verified October 12, 2026
  2. calarts.edu/academics/programs-and-degrees/mfa-film-and-video — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  3. calarts.edu/admissions-aid/admissions/admission-requirements — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
  4. calarts.edu/admissions-aid/admissions/application-process — Official funding / aid page, verified October 12, 2026
  5. calarts.edu/filmvideo — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
  6. calarts.edu/filmvideo/filmvideo-facilities — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026

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