Digital Filmmaking

Terms and start dates. The 2026-2027 calendar runs Fall 2026 from September 8 to December 18, with a mid-fall start on October 26, and Spring 2027 from January 11 to April 23, with a mid-spring start on March 1. Summer 2027 runs May 10 to August 20, and Fall 2027 begins September 7.

Class times. Classes run Monday through Saturday in morning (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), afternoon (2 to 5 p.m.) and evening (6 to 9 p.m.) sessions, and most students take classes Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Full-time students take 12 to 18 credits a semester, students must take at least 6 credits to stay enrolled, and each course expects two hours of outside work for every hour of lecture.

Attendance and leaves. Real-time class attendance is required. Students request an excused absence from the Registrar with supporting documentation, and students in good standing may take a leave of absence of up to 180 days in a 12-month period.

The registration fee is $215 for veterans. Students also buy a Mac-compatible external hard drive of at least 500GB, an SD card, books and other written materials, and craft services for their films.

Financial aid. San Francisco Film School participates in federal student aid, and students accepted into the Digital Filmmaking programs can receive Title IV aid, including Pell Grants and federal loans. Its FAFSA school code is 042340. The school also offers discretionary institutional scholarships for full-time students with at least a 2.5 GPA, and veterans can use GI Bill education benefits.

Payment plans. Short-term, interest-free payment plans of no more than four installments within a term may be approved for balances left after financial aid and scholarships.

Cancellation and refunds. Students can cancel for a full refund through the first class or seven days after enrolling, whichever is later. After that, a pro rata refund applies to students who have attended no more than 60% of the program, and no refund is issued after 60%. The application, administrative and registration fees are non-refundable during the withdrawal period, and refunds are paid within 45 days.

Careers. The catalog ties the program to occupations including producers and directors, camera operators, film and video editors, writers, art directors, special effects artists and animators, audio and video technicians, and sound engineering technicians.

Career help. Near the end of the program, the Executive Assistant to the President offers each student personalized job-search guidance, and students join a private group where industry job openings are posted, at no extra charge. Graduates finish with a portfolio of work, credits on student and professional projects, and industry contacts, and the school offers career counseling to all graduates.

The campus. Since 2016 the school has occupied the second floor of 155 Sansome Street, the historic Art Deco former Pacific Stock Exchange building in downtown San Francisco, reachable by bus, BART and MUNI. The campus has production suites, Apple computer labs that edit uncompressed 4K video, a sound stage with a green screen, a screening room, an Atmos production suite, a 5.1 post-production suite and a library of DVDs, reference books and casting binders.

Student life. Students have a lounge with a kitchen, lockers, and access to the facility and film equipment for approved personal projects, and student projects are covered by production insurance. The school has no dormitories but shares a list of housing options, and the catalog puts Bay Area rents at about $695 for shared housing to $1,800 or more for a private apartment.