ABOUT US

InFocus Film School is an independent film school built on the premise of providing an accelerated education in film and entertainment arts. Originally founded as a non-profit society in 2010, InFocus has become Vancouver’s top cinematic arts training institution, offering diploma and certificate programs in film production, 3D animation, visual effects, screenwriting, and digital graphic design. While our structure has changed over the years, the growth of emerging artists, storytellers, and the arts and entertainment industry as a whole has remained at the core of everything we do.

InFocus Film School provides a superior education through accelerated, hands-on learning. InFocus’ industry-professional instructors mentor students through interactive classes with a focus on building a strong portfolio. We encourage students to grow as visual storytellers, to realize their personal artistic visions, and to maintain creative autonomy as they enter Vancouver’s multi-billion dollar film industry.

Our Mission

InFocus Film School’s core belief is that visual storytellers need to explore their artistic identity, build on their strengths, and develop a unique voice that avoids mainstream formulas. They must also possess a strong understanding of the technical and logistical tools at their disposal to realize their artistic potential.

Our mission is to provide an education environment that holds true to these beliefs. We encourage experimentation and artistic risk to create a centre of excellence in which our students can learn and flourish.

Our education model focuses on hands-on, practical training and project based learning. Small class sizes ensure students are provided with a personalized learning experience, allowing individuality while still harnessing the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Multiple projects allow for a dynamic learning experience, with room to experiment, make mistakes, and apply lessons learned to achieve a portfolio that stands above the crowd.

College accreditations

PTIB

PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS BRANCH

InFocus Film School is Designated with the Private Training Institutions Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills, and Training.

EQA

BC EDUCATION QUALITY ASSURANCE

InFocus Film School has Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, meaning that it exceeds quality assurance standards set by the province of B.C. in regard to student protection and quality of education.

REASONS TO CHOOSE INFOCUS

1. YOU’LL STUDY IN HOLLYWOOD NORTH

Located in downtown Vancouver, BC, InFocus Film School is at the heart of Canada’s film industry. Know as “Hollywood North” Vancouver is the third-largest production centre in North America with a long history of film, TV, documentary, animation, VFX, and video game production. With outstanding natural beauty and a vibrant, diverse, and warm atmosphere, Vancouver has long been established as one of the best places in the world to study film and digital screen arts.

$4.4 BILLION

Over $4.4 Billion is spent on film and TV production every year in BC, and the industry keeps growing.

65,000

The industry employs over 65,000 people directly, with nearly 100,000 jobs if including freelance positions.

3rd

Vancouver is the third-largest production hub in North America – behind only LA and New York – and the largest in Canada. Vancouver also hosts one of the densest clusters of VFX and 3D studios in the world.

494

In 2022, Creative BC reported 494 motion picture productions were shot in BC. This doesn’t count the hundreds of commercials and short films routinely shot in Vancouver.

2. OUR EDUCATION MODEL

The age of two-hour powerpoint presentations is over. Our classes provide an interactive experience that includes theory, instructor-led demos, and follow-up assignments. Weekly labs solidify knowledge in a real life setting. In storytelling, we push our students to take risks. Cinema isn’t supposed to be safe or easily defined. It’s about developing a unique voice that avoids mainstream formulas. It’s also about taking artistic risks and seeing what unfolds.

As filmmakers and storytellers ourselves, we strive to provide the most accessible, highest quality education possible. Our programs are intensive, led by working-industry professionals, and innately hands-on. Because no two students have the same aptitude, smaller class sizes allow us to provide more individualized training, allowing all students to find their creative voice.

A FRACTION OF THE TIME

Our programs are between 1/4 to 1/10 the time of a standard 4-year university education. You’ll earn your certification and start working in a fraction of the time.

A FRACTION OF THE COST

With program costs that are often less than half of the tuition of comparable programs, the investment in your education is only a fraction of what is required at other institutions.

3. ALUMNI SUCCESS

We believe that a school’s relationship with its students never truly ends, and our dedication does not stop at graduation. InFocus is committed to supporting grads in achieving their goals. We hire alumni to collaborate on films with partner organizations and provide ongoing mentorship from InFocus Film School’s instructors. Additionally alumni are connected to industry professionals and job opportunities, ensuring they succeed as creative professionals.

OUR STUDENTS WORK

Over 87% of our students find work in their field of study within a year of graduating.

OUR STUDENTS WIN AWARDS

InFocus alumni win awards, receive grants, and often make the selection of prestigious festivals right out of school. You could be next.

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

In January of 2010, InFocus opened its doors to the public. Now, over a decade on, InFocus is known for its intensely creative, project-based, career-focused programs. With attention to both the technical and creative, its passionate educators help students achieve mastery in their discipline. I grew up in an era when if you announced to your parents that you wanted to work in the arts, they would worry you would starve. But what my parents hadn’t considered was the rise of well paid, film-related jobs around the world. In 2022, we saw over 490 productions generate $4.4 billion for the BC economy.

In 2006, I was an Artist in Residence at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, founded by Norman Jewison. It is Canada’s equivalent to Robert Redford’s highly respected Sundance Institute. The year I spent at the CFC inspired me to establish an institute of similar calibre on the West Coast. With an eye towards excellence, InFocus seeks dedicated students who are eager to take artistic risks and give 110 per cent throughout their many projects. Our educators and advisory boards are all film industry professionals who deliver a curriculum that is relevant to today’s job market and at the same time, they nurture the independent film spirit. Our class sizes are deliberately small; Many of our alumni refer to us as their InFocus family.

It has been immensely gratifying to be a part of the journeys of filmmakers, writers, and visual effects artists. I have seen hundreds of students go from incredibly nervous beginners to budding professionals working in television production, on indie feature films and many on blockbuster films. It’s been a pleasure to be part of their incredible journey.

-Steve Rosenberg

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