10 Best Film schools in Seattle

10 Best Film Schools in Seattle [2025]

10 Best Film Schools in Seattle 

If you are considering a career in the movie industry, then you should consider enrolling in one of the Film schools in Seattle to acquire some formal training.

You will agree that to become an actor or filmmaker, you need to know how to create a story from scratch and tell it through your characters’ actions and words.

That is why this blog post outlines the 10 film schools in Seattle worth going to.

#1 SIFF Film Center

If you’ve got a passion for filmmaking and want to learn the art of filmmaking, then SIFF Film Center is one of the Film schools in Seattle located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

SIFF Film Center has been teaching students how to make movies since 1975.

The school was founded by Hollywood Director John Singleton who has won an Oscar as well as many other awards for his work on films such as Boyz n the Hood and 2 Fast 2 Furious

SIFF Film Center offers a Bachelor’s Degree program in Cinematography and an Associate’s Degree program in Film Production.

SIFF Film Center offers two different programs comprising;

Bachelor’s Degree Program

This program teaches students about all aspects of cinematography including camera work, lighting, composition, editing, and directing actors.

Students will also cover topics such as directing special effects sequences, visual effects, and sounding.

Associate’s Degree Program

This program teaches students about all aspects of filmmaking except cinematography.

Students will learn about directing actors, writing scripts, and producing films while still being able to focus on their chosen area of study such as editing or directing special effects sequences.

Total tuition at SIFF Film Center is $35,000 per student

Contact: +1 206-568-4387

#2 Branded Films

The Branded Films is one of the well-known Film schools in Seattle. The college was founded in 1915, and it has grown to become one of the most respected art schools in the region.

The Branded Films offers a wide range of programs, including courses in film, music, dance, and theater.

The Branded Films is located on Capitol Hill near downtown Seattle. The campus is home to several performance venues and galleries, as well as classrooms and studios that are used by both students and faculty members.

The college offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film production. This program can be completed in four years or five years for students that want to earn an associate degree before applying to their bachelor’s program at Branded Films.

Students who complete this program learn how to write scripts for short films, documentaries, and feature films.

Students equally learn how to direct short films, produce short films, as of well as work on soundtracks for short films.

At The Branded Films, students are taught how to operate cameras for short films, edit footage from short films, choose locations for shooting scenes from movies and also design special effects for movies.

Registration fees for new applicants are roughly $34,200

Contact: +12067262787

#3 The Studio Seattle

The Studio Seattle is a Film school located in Seattle, Washington. The Studio Seattle was founded in 2010 by Courtney Ahrens and is run by her and her husband, Jeffery Ahrens. The Studio Seattle offers a variety of courses for people looking to learn about film and filmmaking.

They offer classes both online and in-person at the studio.

The Studio Seattle focuses on helping people learn how to make their films. They have several different programs available including short-form filmmaking, feature-length filmmaking, and even virtual reality filmmaking.

These programs can be taken online or in-person at the studio depending on your needs and preferences.

The Studio Seattle also offers workshops on how to get started with making videos that can be used online or as part of a larger marketing campaign for your business or organization.

This workshop will teach you how to make videos that are engaging and entertaining while also teaching you valuable skills that will help your brand stand out from the crowd when it comes time to promote yourself or your business online.

The tuition fee at The Studio Seattle is $47,500 per student.

Contact: (206) 456-6226

#4 University of Washington

Many top Film schools in Seattle offer a great education and a solid foundation for the future and the University of Washington is one of them.

The University of Washington is a Film school located in Seattle, WA. The University of Washington offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorate degrees for those interested in studying film.

The University of Washington was founded in 1861 as the Territorial University of Washington and received its current name in 1959.

The University of Washington has an undergraduate enrollment of 29,791 students and a graduate enrollment of 16,617 students, making a total enrollment of 46,408 students.

All undergraduate students at the University of Washington are required to live on campus during their first year, but transfer students may live off-campus after their first year if they choose to do so.

The University of Washington offers study abroad programs in more than 100 countries around the world including Australia, Austria, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, and Great Britain/United Kingdom (UK).

Concerning tuition fees, you are expected to pay $11,700 per semester

Contact: (206) 543-2100

#5 SIFF Film Center

The next Film school which is located in Seattle is the SIFF Film Center. SIFF Film Center is a Film school located in Seattle, Washington.

SIFF Film Center was founded in 1993 by local filmmakers Fred and Rick Jacobs, to provide affordable training for filmmakers at all levels of experience.

Over the years, SIFF has expanded its offerings and now also offers workshops, classes, and private lessons taught by some of the best working professionals in the industry. SIFF Film Center offers programs in Filmmaking and Cinematography.

The school’s facilities include two classrooms with high-definition video projection and editing suites equipped with Avid Media Composer software,  an outdoor sound stage with a full complement of professional lights, and an equipment rental library that includes cameras, and lenses, lighting equipment, and grip equipment.

In addition to the aforementioned facilities, SIFF Film Center equally has a large private screening room with Dolby Digital surround sound, an editing suite equipped with Sony HDCAM cameras and Panasonic P2 portable recorders, an audio recording studio, and an editing suite equipped with Apple Final Cut Pro editing software

This goes a long way in making SIFF Film Center, one of the best Film schools in Seattle

Tuition fees per student at SIFF Film Center are $20,200

Contact: (206) 464-5830

#6 Mighty Tripod Acting Studio

Mighty Tripod Acting Studio is one of the quality Film schools in Seattle, WA. They have been in business for a very long time and have a lot of experience in film design.

Mighty Tripod Acting Studio offers acting classes to help you better your craft and make it easier for you to find work as an actor.

If you’re looking for acting lessons in Seattle, Mighty Tripod is a good place to start.

The instructors at Mighty Tripod are highly qualified professionals who have worked both on stage and screen before. They know what it takes to be successful in this field and they can help guide you along the way.

The classes at Mighty Tripod Acting Studio comprise;

General Acting

This class teaches actors how to successfully audition for roles in film or television shows.

You will learn how to read scripts and give yourself the best chance possible of getting cast as an actor in a major production.

Commercial Auditioning

This class prepares actors for auditions for commercials that air on television.

It will teach you how to improve your acting skills so that you can become more marketable as an actor and land more roles.

Voiceover Auditioning

This class teaches voice actors how to properly prepare themselves when auditioning for voiceover jobs.

The tuition fee at Mighty Tripod Acting Studio is $960 per semester

Contact: +1 206-250-3970

#7 Seattle University

Similar to the Mighty Tripod Acting Studio, Seattle University is another Film school which is located in the heart of Seattle.

Seattle University has a great reputation for producing some of the best filmmakers in the world.

The university offers several courses that are related to cinematography and other aspects of filmmaking. This includes courses such as,

Film Production

This course will teach you how to make a professional feature film with your team. You’ll learn about script writing, directing, cinematography and editing.

Film Studies

This course will help you understand how cinema has been used as an educational tool over time.  You’ll also learn about different genres of film and how they’ve evolved.

Cinema History

This course focuses on exploring how cinema has changed over time and why it’s evolved into what it is today.

The tuition fee at Seattle University is $48,300 per student

Contact: (206) 296-5510

#8 Branded Films

Branded Films is worth mentioning as a Film school in Seattle among the best in town.

Branded Films is known as a renowned digital filmmaking school based in Seattle, WA which teaches students how to make branded content for brands like Microsoft and Adobe.

Students work with brands to create original content that’s a perfect fit for their target audience.

Branded Films offers a variety of courses, including:

Intro to Filmmaking:

In this course, students learn how to shoot video and edit their footage on a basic level. This course is great for beginners who want to learn the basics of filmmaking before diving into more advanced projects.

Intro to Design:

You get to learn how to design graphics and logos for your videos using software like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.

Video Editor

This course equips you with the technical know-how to learn how to edit videos using Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X (FCPX). This course is ideal for people who want to work as editors on major motion pictures or television shows like Stranger Things or Game of Thrones. 

Tuition fees at the Branded Films are $47,500 per student

Contact:  (800) 726-2787

#9 Shoreline Community College

Let’s look at another completely different type of Film school in Seattle known as Shoreline Community College

Shoreline Community College is located in the heart of Seattle and where you can find film schools in Seattle. Shoreline Community College has a high reputation for its courses and programs.

Shoreline Community College offers an Associate in Arts Degree (AA) as well as a Certificate in Film and Digital Media which is designed to give students a solid foundation in the principles of filmmaking and digital media production.

Students will learn about all aspects of production including storyboarding, lighting, sound recording, and editing, as well as directing actors. Students will also learn about various genres such as drama, comedy, documentary, and animation.

It is worth mentioning that the Certificate program is designed for students who already have some experience working in film or digital media production. It includes classes such as Editing Techniques, digital Video Production, lighting Techniques, Advanced Editing Techniques, Audio Recording Techniques, and Scriptwriting

If you are looking forward to a prestigious Film school in Seattle, then Shoreline Community College is worth considering at a fee of $4,076 yearly

Contact: +1 206-546-4101

#10 REDred Photo School & Studio

REDred Photo School & Studio is another Film school in Seattle that was established in 2001.

REDred has always been focused on teaching photography and cinematography.

They offer a variety of courses from beginner to advanced, including private lessons and workshops.

REDred offers classes for people who want to learn how to take great pictures or create films, as well as those who want to get better at what they already do.

Their programs are designed for students looking for professional development, hobbyists, or beginners just starting.

Students can choose between several different types of classes, including:

Digital Photography Classes

In these classes, you will learn about how cameras work and how light affects photos.

You’ll also learn about composition and how to use different types of lenses in your photos.

Photo Editing & Retouching

This class focuses on photo editing techniques and image manipulation using Adobe Photoshop CS5 software.

you also learn how to make your photographs look more professional with these techniques such as color correction, cropping, masking, and more!

Photography Workshops

This workshop will focus on teaching you the basics of digital photography including camera operation, exposure control, and lens selection. Tuition fees at the REDred Photo School & Studio are $175 per semester

Contact: +1 206-659-1081

Final Remarks

Film schools in Seattle are known for offering the best Filmmaking courses for students and adults alike.

Whether you’re interested in making a movie for your family or on the big screen, there are plenty of film schools in Seattle to choose from.

You might be faced with the issue of not wanting to go all-in on a full-time university program, moreover, you might have a film project and you just need help getting started.

If any of these resonates with you, then you should consider all the 10 film schools in Seattle which have been mentioned above. Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comment section below if you got value after reading this blog post.

Share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *