Vancouver Film School

About VFS

The keys to the VFS educational model are structured intensity and immersion in the industry. Vancouver Film School was founded on the philosophy that one year of concentrated work, that balances industry-led theory and hands-on production, gives students the necessary skills to craft a professional-level portfolio or reel.

VFS offers 15 signature post-secondary programs — spanning every aspect of the entertainment arts — that are developed and taught by award-winning industry professionals. Each program’s intensive curriculum evolves along with demands of the industry, and the best, current industry practices.

Students’ experiences emulate the professional industry world. Students are physically and mentally immersed in Vancouver’s film, animation, game, and design industries that surround our campuses, and benefit from career guidance and expertise from industry mentors, instructors, and guest speakers.

Campuses

Vancouver

Canada

Campuses

Select single campus to filter offered courses campus wise:

Vancouver

Canada

Offered Courses

Select level of study to filter the courses:

Short Courses

Acting Essentials - Preparatory

4 Months | Full-time

Develop your instrument, and work with an ensemble, in four months of exploring truth in performance to discover if acting is the ideal creative path for you.

Term 01: The Actor’s craft. Explore an intro to camera, improvisation, and audition, along with the essential actor’s building blocks of voice, movement, text analysis, and acting techniques. Commit to the craft through serious play.

Term 02: The Actor’s toolbox. Integrate the actor’s various disciplines to work more deeply with scripts to create vibrant characters. Build your actor’s toolbox, connect more fully with your voice, body, imagination, and in front of the camera.

Earn a certificate in Acting Essentials

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, August, October

Language: English

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English for Creative Arts - Preparatory

16 Weeks | Full-time | 16 weeks / 468 hours | 29.25 hours/week

Evolve Your Skills

Improve your English while learning skills in Film, Photography, Animation and Game Design.

Develop essential language and communication skills that will help you have a successful career in media arts.

You will participate in English assignments and production of media art, using a variety of traditional techniques in photography, video, and Photoshop.

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August

Language: English

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Foundation Visual Art & Design - Preparatory

12 Months | Full-time

Build a foundation in traditional art techniques combined with training in modern visual media.

Term 1: Acting core principles. Begin the mental, physical, and emotional preparation necessary to enter into the craft of acting.

Term 2: On camera. Experience the technical and creative demands of television auditions.

Term 3: TV audition techniques. Expand your range and presence through improv and advanced skills to master any audition.

Term 4: Special skills + special FX. Discover the demands of sitcom acting, and the special skills necessary for motion capture, green screen, and heightened dramas.

Term 5: We develop your Voice Acting skills with on-the-mic training. Exploring Animation, ADR Voice Coaching sessions will further encourage ease and range in your voice to prepare you for the demands of feature film auditions.

Term 6: Final project shoot. Shoot your film project and promo reel in studio to showcase your talents, and learn how to find an agent and drive your own career.

Earn A diploma in Acting for Film & Television

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, February, August, October

Language: English

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Acting for Film & Television - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Transform your relationship with yourself and others. Develop an actor's instrument and a comprehensive understanding of the craft and business of acting.

Term 1: Acting core principles. Begin the mental, physical, and emotional preparation necessary to enter into the craft of acting.

Term 2: On camera. Experience the technical and creative demands of television auditions.

Term 3: TV audition techniques. Expand your range and presence through improv and advanced skills to master any audition.

Term 4: Special skills + special FX. Discover the demands of sitcom acting, and the special skills necessary for motion capture, green screen, and heightened dramas.

Term 6: Final project shoot. Shoot your film project and promo reel in studio to showcase your talents, and learn how to find an agent and drive your own career.

Earn A diploma in Acting for Film & Television

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, February, May, June, August, October

Language: English

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Film Production - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Live and breathe filmmaking in an industry environment, where you’ll learn from the experts.

Term 1: Explore the possibilities of storytelling, giving you both the narrative craft and visual techniques necessary to bring a story to life on the screen.

Term 2: Expand your range of filmmaking techniques while you learn to work on larger sets and co-create with outside writers.

Term 3: Combine cutting edge techniques, like visual effects, with the ingenuity to solve production challenges.

Term 4: Specialize in two of five key creative streams to build yourself into a multitalented professional.

Term 5: Dedicate your time and energy to final projects, high-quality short films that will form the basis of your professional reel.

Term 6: Complete the filming of all final projects, and focus on employment preparation and advanced electives.

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, February, August, October

Language: English

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Makeup Design for Film & Television - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Gain hands-on experience in the world of production makeup.

Term 1: Learn the fundamentals of beauty makeup, as well as colour theory and facial anatomy.

Term 2: Recreate classic decade looks and adapt them for contemporary application. Simulate a full range of injuries and effects.

Term 3: Learn to define character through hair-laying, wigs, bald caps, airbrushing, and advanced paint techniques.

Term 4: Pour yourself into life-casts, sculpting, age makeup, and mold-making to create three-dimensional prosthetics.

Term 5: Create, apply and paint foam latex appliances, masks, master ventilated hair pieces, and human hair lace-front wigs.

Term 6: Focus on your final portfolio project, and prepare for your career as a makeup artist.

Earn A diploma in Makeup Design for Film & Television

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August

Language: English

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Sound Design - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Discover professional-level sound design techniques in a demanding production environment that closely echoes the industry.

Term 1: Discover the current industry practices in audio, and familiarize yourself with the main audio tool of the industry, Pro Tools.

Term 2: Implement concepts, theory, and tools from the previous term in projects that involve editing background audio, Foley, dialogue, and sound effects.

Term 3: Explore more complex techniques and concepts, and gain practical knowledge in game audio while working on a Game Design-created game.

Term 4: Expand on your skill sets with practical knowledge while working on a film with students the Film program and a game from Game Design students.

Term 5: Become more self-directed as you delve deeper into sound for film and game audio.

Term 6: Present your final portfolio work to an industry panel for feedback and industry prep training to direct your path after graduation.

Earn A diploma in Sound Design for Visual Media

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: February, June, August, October

Language: English

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Writing for Film, Television & Games - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Develop an absolute command of the craft of storytelling, and a deep understanding of the world of film, television and games.

Specializations:

Writing for Feature Films

Writing for Television

Writing for Games

Term 1: Develop fundamental skills in visual storytelling, structure, character, format, and genre.

Term 2: Commit to story and character development for your first feature screenplay.

Term 3: Workshop the first drafts of your feature and TV scripts.

Term 4: Specialize in film, TV or games writing, and begin work on your final project.

Term 5: Electives include writing for comics, video games, and writing for commercials.

Term 6: Complete drafts of your final feature film script or TV pilot for your final project, and polish it through intense workshopping.

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August

Language: English

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3D Animation & Visual Effects - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Gain experience with traditional arts, computer animation, and cinematic storytelling skills in a professional, student environment.

Term 1: Learn the basics of a 3D pipeline to gain insight into the different areas of production.

Term 2: Apply your 3D skills to storytelling in our Pre-visualization class as you further advance your knowledge of the craft.

Term 3: Narrow your focus by choosing one of three streams: animation, modeling or VFX while you plan your final reel in the pre-production classes.

Term 4: Enter into the studio component of the program and start production on your demo reel alongside industry mentors who will guide you to the finish line.

Term 5: Work with faculty and engage in the production process as you iterate and refine your shots. One-on-one feedback and regular group reviews make for a true studio experience.

Term 6: Light, render and composite as you put the final tweaks on your project for industry night - your debut to local industry and beyond.

Earn A diploma in 3D Animation, Visual Effects and Modeling

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, February, May, June, August, October

Language: English

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Animation Concept Art - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Gain the skills, knowledge, and industry expertise needed to create visual concepts that capture the emotional core of your story.

Term 1: Explore the fundamentals of drawing, digital painting and design, and learn how to communicate visually. Collaborate on exciting group projects when you design a new racing game vehicle.

Term 2: Expand your skills through the exploration of creating new and exciting worlds, as you and your collaborative group reimagine fantastical environments.

Term 3: Compelling characters are at the very core of storytelling. Work on designing a cast of characters for the next hit TV show, and expand your knowledge of how to tell authentic and memorable stories.

Term 4: Learn how to be inspired by the world and media around you, and apply it to a full design package filled with exciting characters, mind-blowing vehicles, and worlds no one has ever imagined.

Term 5: Create a personal and completely original high-quality pitch package that will form the backbone of your portfolio.

Term 6: Focus on preparing for your career in film, television, games, interactive media, comic arts, illustration, or something new that you could have never imagined!

Earn A diploma in Animation Concept Art

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: February, June, August, October

Language: English

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Classical Animation - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Create an attention-grabbing reel of animated work that showcases your classical animation techniques, storytelling skills, and grasp of modern digital tools.

Term 1: Delve into the fundamentals of drawing, animation, and basic art direction.

Term 2: Enhance your drawing skills with storyboard and background design exercises.

Term 3: Explore more complex animation concepts like animating a character’s thoughts and emotions through acting principles.

Term 4: Create storyboards for an animated film, character model sheets, layouts, and final artwork for rendering.

Term 5: Progress to the art direction, digital ink and paint phase of production on your final project.

Term 6: Assemble a traditional animation portfolio in preparation for graduation.

Earn A diploma in Classical Animation

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August

Language: English

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Digital Design - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Learn the in-demand skills to become an interactive user experience or motion design industry professional.

Specializations:

Interactive User Experience Design
Motion Design

Term 1: Understand fundamental design approaches for both UX/UI and motion design, target audiences, and current tools to tell simple, powerful stories, and create solutions that work.

Term 2: Take your tools skills to the next level by creating projects that focus on humanizing information, 3D graphics, typography, branding, and motion broadcast design.

Term 3: Gain experience working with and presenting to a real client, learn more about the industry you’re joining, and harness your design skills to create pieces the world will see.

Term 4: Jump into your chosen specialization of motion graphic design or interactive design, research your idea and concept for your graduate project, and pitch it to industry mentors.

Term 5: Execute your idea and concept, managing the intricacies of studio-scale production, and work with your mentor to build and refine your graduate project.

Term 6: Work with experts in portfolio development, employment strategy, and the business, law, and ethics of design to finalize your personal brand and position as a designer in your chosen field.

Earn A diploma in Digital Design

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August

Language: English

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Game Design - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Experience the entire game development cycle and develop specialized skills in coding, game art, and level design.

Term 1: Establish fundamental skills in game theory, pre-production techniques, and storytelling.

Term 2: Build on your game design foundation and start to work effectively in teams. Create your own playable 2D game in Unity.

Term 3: Shift from theoretical to practical with hands-on work on detailed design documentation and front-end interfaces, and begin specializing in coding, game art or level design.

Term 4: The core part of this term is dedicated to designing and planning a major team-based final project.

Term 5: Conceive, plan, and execute a final project that delivers a rewarding interactive experience.

Term 6: Engage with ongoing play-testing and complete your final project before unveiling your work to the industry.

Earn A diploma in Game Design

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, May, August, October

Language: English

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Programming for Games, Web & Mobile - Advanced

12 Months | Full-time

Create a focused software development portfolio in a fast-paced production environment that's driven by innovation.

Term 1: Delve into the fundamental theories, key concepts, and processes involved in creating high-quality games, web, and mobile projects.

Term 2: Enhance your skill set by utilizing C++ programming language, object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques, and mobile applications for the Apple iPad and iPhone. Take your programming skills into the two biggest game engines, Unreal and Unity 3D, while also starting to work in the Android programming ecosystem.

Term 3: Paired with Game Design students, create your first team-based game while also delving deeper into Unity, C++, and iOS technologies

Term 4: The core part of this term is dedicated to designing and planning a major team-based project while you continue studying game engines and mobile/web programming.

Term 5: Optionally paired with Game Design students, create a retail-quality game as your key portfolio piece, while also advancing your understanding of rendering and optimization.

Term 6: Finish your final project, prepare your portfolio, and unveil your work to the game industry at our Pitch + Play event.

Earn A diploma in Programming for Games, Web & Mobile

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, August

Language: English

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VR/AR Design & Development - Advanced

8 Months | Full-time

Create immersive experiences and build the tools of tomorrow for the industry of your choice.

Term 1: 4 Months

Explore trends in VR/AR development, and build foundational knowledge of programming, data structures, and algorithms. Learn to create 2D and 3D assets using Adobe Creative Suite and Maya. Begin working with Unity and Unreal to develop VR/AR applications and experiences. Begin production process — research, planning, and building a project.

Term 2: 4 Months

Focus on user experience and interface design, from research and concept to wireframe and prototype. Understand VR/AR market trends and industrial applications, and work on a client-based project. Dive deeper into understanding Unity and Unreal within VR/AR development. Work on individual or team-based final project developing a VR or AR application.

Vancouver Campus

Next intake: January, August

Language: English