The Rise of Film Schools in the U.S.: From USC to Today

The University of Southern California boasts the first film school in North America, the School for Cinematic Arts, established in 1929. However, the 1960s marked a turning point for film education in the U.S. with a surge in film school programs. Columbia University launched its program in 1966, followed by the American Film Institute in 1967. Today, over 300 institutions across the nation offer degrees or studies in filmmaking, film studies, or media studies, often integrating film with disciplines like anthropology or gender studies.