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Top reasons to study at London Film School

  • GLOBAL: The world’s international graduate film conservatoire. A diverse range of cultures and film traditions makes for a creative hothouse. This global network, once built, lasts a professional lifetime.
  • PRACTICAL: The school operates as a busy working studio, producing around 180 films each year. Filmmakers gain key credits on production exercises throughout the course, plus on graduation films.
  • RECOGNISED: The School has been awarded World-Leading Specialist Provider status by the Office for Students. The status marks LFS out as being recognised internationally in the filmmaking specialism, providing a level of quality and expertise among the finest in the world.
  • PROVEN: Thousands of high profile alumni include directors Michael Mann (Public Enemies), Mike Leigh (Mr Turner), Ann Hui (A Simple Life), Koby Adom (Top Boy, Noughts + Crosses), Carla Simon (Alcarràs); cinematographers Erik Wilson (Paddington), Roger Pratt (Harry Potter) Tak Fujimoto (The Sixth Sense); editors Robert Leighton (Misery, A Few Good Men), Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir (Bullet Train, John Wick); producer Iain Smith (Mad Max: Fury Road).
  • PROFESSIONAL: Students are taught by experienced filmmakers. Films are made on built sets, shot on professional level cameras, recorded on professional digital recorders, edited on Avid and in most terms given a professional dub.
  • VISIBLE: LFS Graduation films regularly screen at Oscar and Bafta qualifying festivals, and often at A list festivals such as Cannes La Cinef, BFI London Film Festival, TIFF and Berlinale. LFS graduates are accepted into multiple talent labs and development schemes such as Locarno Academy, Berlinale Talents, Film London Labs, Serial Eyes and other labs all over the world.
  • LOCATION: Located in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, central London offers LFS students access to social events, culture and probably more films showing for London's nine million inhabitants than in any other capital city. 

About London Film School

Country the United Kingdom
City London
Number of courses 2
Year founded 1956
Number of students 361

London Film School (LFS) is the oldest film school in the UK. For more than 65 years, LFS has been the place for emerging creative talent to hone their craft, find their voice and engage directly with the vibrant UK screen industries. The School offers three full-time MA programmes, a PhD. Film by Practice, and a full calendar of short courses. 

The School is celebrated for its commitment to film, innovation and creative freedom, and its reputation for teaching excellence and practical learning. In 2022 London Film School was awarded World-Leading Specialist Provider status by the Office for Students. Located in the heart of London’s Covent Garden, LFS welcomes a student cohort from every corner of the globe, LFS has always been a cultural hub where fresh voices, experiences and perspectives rub shoulders with tradition and history. This diverse range of cultures and film traditions makes for a creative hothouse. A global network, once built, lasts a professional lifetime.

The School is committed to collaborative practice-based learning and produces over 180 films every year, creating a dynamic and intensive film environment. LFS nurture and respect the imagination of students, allowing them to experiment, challenge conventions and explore new modes of storytelling, and to find new ways to connect with audiences. Mastering technical skills is balanced with the creative development of ideas. Students engage with the new challenges facing screen storytellers in an ever-changing landscape and are encouraged to apply that same imagination and experimentation in thinking about new business models, into developing a career as an independent filmmaker. 

LFS is deeply connected to local and international screen industries, and its alumni span the globe, working in every part of the film industry. Its students have won every major award in the screen industries, and the School continues to foster and nurture the next generation of filmmakers. The nominations and awards list spans Cannes, Venice, Tribeca, Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival, The BFI London Film Festival, Edinburgh, Encounters, Oscars, and Sundance. Every role within LFS plays a key part in shaping future creative professionals, impacting the future of the global creative industries.

Within the MA Filmmaking there is no pre-specialisation, students will experience and be provided with a full education in all the craft areas to develop a full understanding of filmmaking and find their filmmaking voice. The experience offered is built around the notion that filmmaking is a collaborative process, not a product of any one individual. Students engage in all disciplines, with their fellow students and staff.

The MA Screenwriting provides a unique opportunity to develop a full-length feature film script, with individual mentoring and guidance from industry mentors. Screenwriting students have opportunities to work with filmmaking students to make several short films across the year.

Understanding digital strategies and new funding models is addressed in the MA International Film Business, a course run in conjunction with the University of Exeter. With modules in international finance, world cinema, and a research trip to a major Film Festival, the course prepares students for careers in programming, exhibition, and distribution in a fast-changing media landscape.

The University of Exeter College of Humanities is able to offer doctoral studentships to fund doctoral study in Film by Practice, as a joint degree with London Film School. These doctoral studentships are tenable for up to three years and cover full tuition fees and a maintenance allowance.

London Film School is a non-profit educational charity with Greg Dyke as its Chairman of the Board and Chris Auty as Director and CEO.

  

Click here for information about financial support while you study at LFS.

Click here to read more about LFS Alumni.

Learn more about London Film School

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Courses at London Film School

There are 2 courses listed from London Film School. These are displayed below in alphabetical order:

Student reviews of London Film School

Find out what students say about London Film School

Oliver Hermanus

"An LFS education is not limited to the technical skills that produce new filmmakers. It's an education that challenges you to find your voice and make it heard"

Oliver's graduation feature SHIRLEY ADAMS won the 3 top awards at the SAFTAs. His most recent feature, LIVING was nominated for three BAFTAs and two Academy Awards.

Duncan Jones

"The beauty of a good film school is that it invites you to make mistakes, but never dampens your enthusiasm. At LFS I made plenty, and ignited a passion."

Duncan Jones, LFS Graduate, Director SOURCE CODE, MOON, WARCRAFT

Mike Leigh

"LFS is a vibrant, hands-on film-making environment, producing over 180 films a year. Where better to learn about the practical craft of screenwriting?"

Mike Leigh – LFS Graduate

Location of London Film School

London Film School main campus location is shown on the map below:

Map showing location of London Film School

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Facts about London Film School

  • Year institution founded: 1956
  • Total enrolled: 361
  • International to domestic ratio: 70
  • Number of Full-time students: 361
  • Men to women ratio: 51:49
  • Number of academic staff: 46

The world's only truly international graduate film school. Over 80% of students are non-UK, from more than forty countries across all continents. A diverse range of film cultures makes for a creative hothouse. The global network lasts after graduation, wherever you travel to, for your professional life.

Download a prospectus

Download a prospectus from London Film School for more information.

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International Study Visa

As an international student you may require a valid visa to study at London Film School. Read more about the requirements in our Guide to the United Kingdom International Student Visa Requirements.