Learn from award-winning filmmakers
The Sidney Poitier New American Film School in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at ASU is one of the largest, most inclusive film schools in the country — a testament to the indomitable spirit of Sidney Poitier himself. One school in three cities, The Poitier New American Film School offers a BA, a BFA and an MA in Los Angeles.
Hear from ASU faculty members at the downtown LA location about how they are shaping future filmmakers.
Start your career in film from LA – join the creative economy of the future!
Renowned faculty
LA-based faculty include:
XR Pioneer, Peabody Award winner and program director Nonny de la Peña.
Primetime Emmy award winner, showrunner and deputy director Peter Murrieta.
MacArthur Fellows and founders of the Borderlands Cinema Lab Alex Rivera.
MacArthur Fellows and founders of the Borderlands Cinema Lab Christina Ibarra.
Excellence and innovation year after year
#1 in the U.S. for innovation
ASU ahead of MIT and Stanford
– U.S. News & World Report 9 years, 2016–2024
#2 public university for employable graduates
#13 in the U.S. for undergraduate teaching
– U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Real-world, hands-on experiences and internship opportunities
One-on-one learning from award-winning, expert faculty
Access to cutting-edge technology in state-of-the-art studios
About the BA in film program
Course schedules for ASU’s BA in film (filmmaking practices) are designed to be flexible, with classes focused on:
- Screenwriting for feature films, television and new media.
- Producing practices, including on-set production and production management.
- Production for feature films, television and the internet.
- Professional and technical writing.
- And more!
We invite both first year students and qualified transfer students to apply to the BA in film (filmmaking practices) in LA.
Transfer to the filmmaking practices program in L.A. from a community college:
About the BFA in film and media production
The BFA in film and media production provides creative experiences and preprofessional training to students with a focus on ethical practices, cutting-edge technical skills and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students are equipped to master digital technologies and create stories that reflect their unique vision and voice.
About the MA in Narrative and Emerging Media
The ASU California Center Broadway in LA is home to the MA in Narrative and Emerging Media, a joint graduate degree between The Poitier Film School in the Herberger Institute and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Graduate students in this program develop a creative practice and critical understanding of emerging storytelling and immersive experience content creation in augmented, virtual and extended reality,and short-form digital, streaming and virtual production.
Los Angeles location
- Students interested in using GI Bill benefits should consider The Poitier Film School degree programs in Arizona.
- Currently, both BA in Filmmaking Practices and BFA in Film and Media Production at the Los Angeles location are available to international students seeking an F-1 and J-1 visa. However, ASU FIDM at the Los Angeles location is not available to international students seeking an F-1 and J-1 visa.
It wasn't until I got to ASU and started meeting people that I was able to find my voice, find the career I wanted to pursue and just become who I am now.
Jayla Johnson, alum and assistant at 3 Arts Entertainment
Start your journey
Now more than ever, media industries require thoughtful and hardworking professionals who understand the importance of collaborative and ethical filmmaking practices and embrace innovative storytelling as a key cultural form. Join us, and learn how to make an impact on and off screen.