21 Best Film Acting Schools In The World

If you’ve ever had any Hollywood actors as your role models, you may also have wanted to join the best acting school and become one of the celebrity actors in the future. We all, at some point in time, have played a role in a drama while growing up.

Although most of our childhood roles in various school dramas may require little to no work and may not require movie effects at those levels, they could simply be school dramas to impart knowledge and have fun while studying.

If you want to choose a career path in the film industry, there is more to learn about becoming a better actor, which requires going through approved film training courses in accredited movie schools where the best actors study filming.

Before we proceed, let’s take a look at the meaning of the word “film”

What is a film?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says that film is “a series of still images projected onto a screen to create the illusion of motion.” That’s right: All those actors you see on the big screen are just that—actors. That means they were trained for years to become what they are today. The best acting schools in the world will give you the tools necessary to become one yourself.

Best acting schools in the world

Whether you’re looking for the easiest filmmaking school to get into or the world’s best filmmaking schools in the world, our list of schools will satisfy you. We didn’t just stop at mentioning the top film acting schools in the world, we also mentioned popular actors who had acquired skills from those schools on our list.

1. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London

Founded in 1884, RADA is one of the most prestigious drama schools in the world. It’s also a great place to learn how to act if you’re looking for an intensive course that doesn’t take too long. In just three years, students will graduate with a BA(Hons) in Acting and be ready to start their careers on stage or screen!

2. National Theatre School of Canada, Montreal

The National Theatre School of Canada is a public institution dedicated to training actors and theatre professionals. It consists of two distinct programs: a four-year program that trains students in acting, directing, and playwriting; and a three-year program for those who have already completed their undergraduate degree.

Its graduates include many successful Canadian actors, such as Don McKellar (who is also a graduate student), Ellen Page, Sarah Polley, and Oscar nominee Gordon Pinsent.

Related: 21 Free Websites To Watch Movies In Theaters For Free

3. Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, Montreal

The Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal is one of the oldest drama schools in Canada, and it offers a full-time three-year program and a part-time four-year program. It also offers preparatory classes for the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec.

4. Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Rome

The Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (known as the Cinema Center) is the oldest film school in Europe and was founded in 1937. It is a public institution of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, that trains people in all aspects of filmmaking, including directors, actors, writers, and technicians.

It is also the only Italian film school accredited by the European Film Academy.

5. Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television (EICTV), Cuba

The EICTV is a film school in Cuba. It was founded in 1964 and is the largest film school in Latin America, with over 1,500 students from all over the world. The school has produced many famous actors, directors, and producers, including Oscar winners like Juan Carlos Tabio and Fernando Birri.

6. Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York City

Located in New York City, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting is one of the most well-known schools for professional actors. It was founded by renowned actress and teacher Stella Adler.

The school provides training in all aspects of acting, including voice, movement, and scene study. Students also have access to master classes with visiting artists from around the world who are invited to teach workshops at the school or give lectures on various topics related to their field of expertise.

Some famous graduates include Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Lucille Ball, and Marlon Brando (to name a few).

Stella Adler Studios’ alumni can be found on Broadway stages and even in Hollywood movies—and it’s no wonder given how many famous actors were trained there!

7. The New School for Drama, New York City

Founded in 1999 by James Bundy, this school offers a one-year graduate program in acting.

The school accepts students on a rolling basis and requires that they have already graduated from an undergraduate program.

This school is known for its innovative approach to theatre training, including the use of movement techniques such as Laban Movement Analysis and the Alexander Technique.

8. School of Visual Arts (SVA), New York City

If you’re interested in studying film acting, SVA is an excellent choice. The school, which was founded in 1947 by the artist and writer Harry G. Cunningham (who also happens to be a veteran of WWI), offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting.

The program is small with a low student-to-teacher ratio; this allows students to build strong relationships with their mentors while getting hands-on experience on set during the mandatory internship requirement over the summer between their junior and senior years.

9. The Film & TV School at USC, Los Angeles

If you’re looking to study film at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, look no further than the USC School of Cinematic Arts. One of Hollywood’s most well-known film schools, it has been named by several publications as one of the top film schools in the country (including Princeton Review and Forbes magazine).

The school boasts a strong reputation for producing award-winning actors and filmmakers—and its alumni include some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Alumni have won an impressive 11 Academy Awards; these include such legends as George Lucas (Star Wars), James Cameron (Avatar), Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), and Michael Bay (Transformers).

USC is also ranked among America’s best colleges according to U.S. News & World Report and The Hollywood Reporter.

10. UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, Los Angeles

The UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television was founded in 1965. It is a member of the 10 schools and colleges that make up the University of California system.

The school has a campus in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, which is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in the world with an average cost per square foot being over $2,300.

The school is part of UCLA’s campus and as such it operates as one unit with other departments at this university such as:

• The Henry Samueli School Of Engineering And Applied Science (HSSEAS)
• The Graduate School Of Education And Information Studies (GSEIS)
• The SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (SHSS)

11. The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, Los Angeles

The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute is a private acting school in the heart of Hollywood. They offer a wide range of programs for actors and filmmakers, including a Master of Fine Arts degree. If you’re looking for an advanced education in film acting, this school is worth checking out.

Located at 1501 N Las Palmas Ave., the institute’s small campus has been home to some of Hollywood’s most successful actors and directors, including; Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Ellen Burstyn—all who studied under famed director and teacher Lee Strasberg himself during his lifetime (1917-1982).

With opportunities for classes taught by professionals from around the world, this program is ideal for those who have specific goals regarding their careers as performers or filmmakers.

12. American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Los Angeles & New York City

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a two-year conservatory located in Los Angeles and New York City. The AADA was founded in 1884 by the father of American theater, William Shakespeare.

The school offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience from some of the most experienced teachers on staff including Robert Cohen, Carol Rosenfeld, Joseph Bologna and Susan Batson.

13. The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, New York City and Los Angeles

The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University is one of the best film acting schools in the world. It’s located in New York City and Los Angeles and offers a full-time MFA degree.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with an education that focuses on practical training as well as theoretical study. Students are given opportunities to work on their craft through performance labs, rehearsals, workshops, master classes and scene study sessions led by distinguished faculty members who have worked with some of Hollywood’s most notable actors and directors.

The school also provides an extensive internship program where you can gain valuable experience working on film sets or theatre productions throughout New York City or Los Angeles during your time at The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University!

14. Actors Studio MFA Program at the New School for Drama, NYC and LA campuses

The Actors Studio MFA Program at the New School for Drama is a two-year graduate program that prepares students for careers in film, television, and theater. The program is run by the renowned Actors Studio and gives students a chance to work with experienced acting teachers on-campus or as part of their own independent projects.

The school’s international campuses are located in New York City (NYC) and Los Angeles (LA), so if you’re looking to attend school outside of Europe then this could be a good fit for you. Anyone from anywhere who wants to study acting can apply—the New School only accepts applications from U.S.-based applicants if they’re interested in studying on one of its European campuses or taking one of its summer programs abroad, like those held at Oxford University (UK) or Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (France).

15. Julliard School, New York City

Julliard is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City, known for its rigorous and competitive admissions process.

Julliard is a university-level institution and offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in acting, design, dance, drama, and film. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students from nearly every country in the world.

Julliard’s faculty includes many notable performers in their respective fields: dancers Peter Martins (the current director of The Metropolitan Opera Ballet) and Alexandra Ansanelli; actors Meryl Streep (one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars), Christopher Walken (recognized for his unique brand of “creepy” onscreen presence), Robert De Niro (actor/director who has won two Oscars); playwright Edward Albee; interior designer Thierry Despont; composer John Williams; stage director Andrei

Konchalovsky; costume designer Michael Wojcik —and many others.

16. Tisch School of Arts at New York University (NYU)

New York City is a magical place, and if you want to be part of that magic-making, then you should enroll in the Tisch School of Arts at New York University (NYU). This is one of the best film acting schools in the world because it offers two options:

• Acting degree programs for students who want to learn how to act on stage or in front of a camera.
• Directing degree programs for those who want more than just being a performer—they want total control over every aspect of their work. If this sounds like what you’re looking for, then look no further than NYU!

17. Yale University School Of Drama, Connecticut, and New Haven campuses

The Yale University School of Drama is a professional school at Yale University that offers a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in acting and directing, as well as a one-year certificate program in acting.

The program is intended to prepare students for careers in theater and related fields. Students may pursue acting or directing concentrations, which can be combined with other programs such as Playwriting or Musical Theater Writing to earn an MFA degree.

The term “professional school” is used to describe schools where students are taught by faculty who are practicing professionals rather than academics; these schools typically offer degrees that have fewer requirements than more traditional Master’s programs (e.g., fewer required courses), but result in higher earning potential upon graduation due to their practical nature.

The Yale School Of Drama was founded by George Pierce Baker on 27th October 1924 on Hillhouse Avenue with only $20 million dollars worth of land which was donated by Nicholas Murray Butler for him to build his own theater called “Nicholas Murray Butler Hall”.

18. Elon University

Elon University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located in Elon, North Carolina. Elon is a member of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and competes in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Elon University was founded by Baptists who wanted to create a school where church leaders could educate ministers in this environment. It has grown over time into a comprehensive institution that has been recognized numerous times for its academic excellence with awards such as Princeton Review’s Best College Campuses and Best Mid-sized Colleges for International Students.

The university has also been ranked by U.S News & World Report as one of the best colleges in North Carolina every year since 2012 on their list of America’s Best Colleges which makes it one of the best acting schools in North Carolina too!

19. Syracuse University

The next school on our list is Syracuse University, which was founded in 1870. The university’s roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lima, New York, in 1832.

The university is currently organized into seven colleges: College of Arts and Sciences; Martin J. Whitman School of Management; School of Architecture and Interior Design (which includes the School of Art and Design); S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; Tompkins Cortland Community College Center for Excellence; College of Engineering and Computer Science; Institute for Telecommunication Studies

20. Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory

Founded in 1988, the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory offers bachelor’s degrees in acting, directing, and musical theatre. You can also earn a master’s degree in performance studies or directing, as well as a Ph.D. in performance studies at this school.

The conservatory is known for its strong emphasis on practical skills training—including scene study and audition technique—and has been named one of the top 10 schools for film acting by MovieMaker Magazine multiple times since its founding.

21. Oxford’s Drama School

Oxford’s Drama School is one of the best film-acting schools in the world. Located in Oxford, England, it has been ranked as one of the top drama schools in the world by The Hollywood Reporter.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The future of film acting is in good hands. The world’s best acting schools are keeping up with the times and adapting to changing demands. Regardless of what happens next in the entertainment industry, these schools will still be churning out great talent for decades to come—and for a long time after that too!