Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Are there any limitations what content can be in our student projects?
  2. How much hands-on training do we receive in relation to classes that focus on theory?
  3. Will we use film cameras or digital video cameras when we learn lighting and shooting?
  4. Is IAFT accredited?
  5. Will IAFT assist with obtaining Special Study Permits, student visas, or other immigration documentation?
  6. Will I receive a certificate or diploma when I complete the program?
  7. Do students work with individual mentors on projects, or do students work with several mentors?
  8. Will IAFT assist me with job placement after I complete the program?
  9. Besides tuition, will I have any additional expenses while attending?
  10. Is the IAFT campus accessible to ATMs, banks, grocery stores, shopping, and other amenities?
  11. What is there to do in Los Angeles after class?
  12. Is your tuition competitive?
  13. Do you have an English-Only Policy?

1. Are there any limitations what content can be in our student projects?
We at IAFT strongly believe in creativity and experimentation. We encourage students to stay within industry standards, but we try our best not to get in the way of free expression and illuminated storytelling in the work of our students. We also give support to the judgment of our mentors in the classroom, although we naturally retain the right to withhold our support from any project as deemed necessary by IAFT.
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2. How much hands-on training do we receive in relation to classes that focus on theory?
At IAFT, we want to prepare you for actually performing as a professional actor or filmmaker. This means we place high importance on ensuring you understand the theory behind the skills and techniques used to create this particular type of art. We use both classroom instruction from industry veterans and hands-on training to give you the practical and theoretical foundation for success – which for our film programs means actually “doing”, with hands-on practice with moving lights, using cameras, utilizing sound equipment, and editing film in the studio.
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3. Will we use film cameras or digital video cameras when we learn lighting and shooting?
We use HD digital cameras and learn to light and shoot with HD digital filmmaking in order to give you the ability to experiment widely (and us the ability to limit costs of production).
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4. Is IAFT accredited?
Our IAFT campuses have been licensed by several regulatory bodies, depending on their specific locations. IAFT Los Angeles, for example, is licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education in California. IAFT Cebu, Philippines is accredited under the Republic of The Philippines’ Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC).
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5. Will IAFT assist with obtaining Special Study Permits, student visas, or other immigration documentation?
No. See: International Students
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6. Will I receive a certificate or diploma when I complete the program?
Yes – graduates of the Filmmaking and Acting programs will receive a Certificate or Diploma, depending on the program.
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7. Do students work with individual mentors on projects, or do students work with several mentors?
At IAFT, we believe in learning from those who have been there before – experienced industry veterans who have acted or worked in filmmaking all across the globe. As a result, we believe in giving you as much access to this wealth of talent and experience as possible. Several mentors will teach you the tips, tools, and techniques you’ll need to be a success in your chosen field – and each will have valuable contributions to make for your future.
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8. Will IAFT assist me with job placement after I complete the program?
We can offer no guarantee that you will be able to obtain work after completing our program, just like any other institute of education (even one like ours!). But, we do offer the exposure to real-world careers in the film and production industries and give you an inside track to competitive positions through our faculty of mentors and advisors. We do agree to help you prepare for the production job market and also help you with research and referrals for positions.
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9. Besides tuition, will I have any additional expenses while attending?
Our students typically pay for rent, transportation, food, and other standard living expenses. Also, at minimum, you will need a 1 TGB firewall external hard drive for our editing suite, as well as a 64GB SD card.
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10. Is the IAFT campus accessible to ATMs, banks, grocery stores, shopping, and other amenities?
Yes – there are shops, ATMs, restaurants, and other common amenities within walking distance from our campus.
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11. What is there to do in Los Angeles after class?
This is an easy question! With IAFT, you have the luxury of studying in two of the most vibrant and “alive” cities on the planet and will never run out of things to do in your free time!

Los Angeles
Los Angeles isn’t known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World” for nothing! Our students love to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the greater LA area, from seeing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the beautiful white-sand beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica. LA is awash in terrific options for shopping, dining, and entertainment, including trendy nightclubs, soothing coffee shops, and some of the best outdoor experiences in the country.
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12. Is your tuition competitive?
Absolutely! As a boutique film school, we pride ourselves on offering a top film school experience for a fraction – roughly a third – of the price of most other film schools. To help even more, we offer convenient payment plans for our students.
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13. Do you have an English-Only Policy?
IAFT is an international school comprised of students from many different backgrounds. As filmmaking is a collaborative art, clear communication is imperative to success. Therefore, IAFT has enacted an English Language Only policy.

IAFT classes and workshops are taught exclusively in English. This policy is extended to student projects.

With clear communication being a key to on-set safety, it is important that everyone understand each other at all times. Using a common language ensures that everyone on set receives the same vital information.

IAFT also cherishes collaboration between all of its students. Using a common language allows every student the same opportunity to collaborate with every other student, regardless of his or her nationality.

Working on a film where one cannot understand what the film is about (or at the very least what the actors are saying) can cause some students to feel like they are not an integral part of the filmmaking process, or at worst, it may completely ostracize them from the process.

IAFT wants to ensure that no student feels alienated. We want our classes, films and feedback to be inclusive to all. Our goal is to create the most inclusive, collaborative environment possible.

Furthermore, IAFT wants to prevent the creation of student factions based on race, country of origin, linguistic abilities, etc. Instead of a student choosing his or her artistic collaborators based on native tongue, we want people to form artistic bonds that transcend nationality.

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