The Hollywood Reporter Names SF State School of Cinema 19th Best Film School in U.S.

Monday, August 24, 2020
Photo of animation class with drawing of faces shown on several screens
Photo by Hannah Anderson from February 18, 2016

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER -- SF State was founded in the ’60s with an emphasis on political activism and experimental filmmaking, an ethos that can be seen in its contemporary coursework, with classes like Experimental Documentary. The program, which has been under the direction of noted film scholar Celine Parreñas Shimizu for a year, outlines an 18-point statement of values surrounding “diversity, equity and inclusion” (point 18 reads: “Down with censorship!”). The school recently named endowed chairs in both African American cinema and social justice fiction filmmaking — Artel Great and Mayuran Tiruchelvam, respectively.

Tuition: $7,440 undergrad; $8,704 grad

Alumni: Annette Bening, Lisa Cholodenko, Steven Zaillian

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