Why LFSTen reasons why students choose the London Film School
GlobalThe world's international graduate film conservatoire. Seventy percent of students are from outside the UK, from more than sixty countries. A diverse range of cultures and film traditions makes for a creative hothouse. This global network, once built, lasts a professional lifetime.
PracticalThe school operates as a busy working studio, producing around 180 films each year. MA Filmmakers gain key credits on a minimum of ten exercise films and a graduation work.
ProvenThousands of high profile alumni include directors Michael Mann (PUBLIC ENEMIES), Mike Leigh (MR TURNER), Duncan Jones (SOURCE CODE), Ann Hui (A SIMPLE LIFE); cinematographers Jo Willems (THE HUNGER GAMES), Erik Wilson (PADDINGTON), Roger Pratt (HARRY POTTER) Tak Fujimoto (THE SIXTH SENSE); editors Mark Goldblatt (RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES), Robert Leighton (NOW YOU SEE ME); producer Iain Smith (MAD MAX: FURY ROAD).
ProfessionalStudents are taught by working UK filmmakers. Films are made on built sets, shot on professional level cameras, recorded on Nagra V, edited on Avid Composer and given a professional dub in Soho.
VisibleIn 2014 LFS films screened at over 150 festivals, winning many prizes, including the Cannes Palme d'Or for Best Short Film, the most prestigious festival accolade. Over recent years, ten LFS graduates have been taken on the Cannes Residence programme and graduates are regularly selected for other talent programmes, such as Binger Film Lab, Sundance Film Lab and Film London's Microwave scheme. In 2014, over 25 features by recent graduates were in global distribution.
ConnectedLFS is two minutes walk from Soho, center of the European entertainment industry. Key figures of the UK and European industries pass through very often. The school provides mentors and career development support after graduation.
Attentive140 students, 22 full time faculty, scores of visiting lecturers - more student-lecturer 'face time' than any other graduate film school.
RecognisedOne of three UK graduate schools in the UK Creative Skillset Film Academy Network, accredited as a center of excellence.
ValueLFS is a not-for-profit educational trust committed to spending its money only on your education. On the MA Filmmaking, all film exercises paid for including stock and equipment, plus a substantial budget for the graduation film - incorporated into your fees. Most schools quote only tuition costs, with filmmaking budgets an extra.
InnovativeA school that works with the film industry, understands the market and employability - and also takes your ambitions and your originality very seriously. We want you to reinvent film form rather than copy what already exists.
Location and FacilitiesThe school is situated in the centre, in Covent Garden, within walking distance of West End cinemas and theatres, the Royal Opera House, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the British Film Institute Library, the BFI Southbank, the Tate Modern and, even closer, Wardour Street in Soho, nerve centre of the British Film Industry.
Facilities at the LFS include:StudiosTwo studios equipped with lighting rigs are available for the film exercises, as well as a rehearsal studio, used also for drama and script workshops.
CinemasProjection facilities for digital, 35mm and 16mm are available in two cinemas, with 110 and 35 seat capacity respectively.
Camera DepartmentIn the first year, the equipment includes 8 Aatons with prime lenses for the two 16mm exercises and digital formats for the documentary exercises and student research projects. In the 2nd year, currently all students shoot on both 35mm film and on digital using our Alexa. Fisher dollies are provided for studio use. Lighting Equipment ranges from the standard tungsten Openface, Fresnel and HMI lamps to Kinoflo's, dedo kits and led pads.
Design StudioThere is a fully equipped design studio with drawing boards, model making facilities, visual reference library and materials library and design computer suite.
Editing SuitesThe School has non-linear editing systems running Avid Media Composer. Some systems are also equipped with Final Cut Pro. The analogue film room is equipped to handle 35mm and 16mm film formats.
Sound SuitesThere are Protools 24HD work stations for the preparation of sound tracks for Dolby digital mixes. Commentary and foley recording area, sound effects library.
Production OfficeThere is a production office with computers, fax, telephone and internet access. Wifi access.
VLEThe LFS Uses Moodle as the Virtual Learning Environment of the LFS. Students are able to view, download and print technical manuals, syllabuses, course descriptions, forms, legal agreements, school regulations and other documents, and take part in activities set up by course tutors.
LibraryThe School Library keeps and documents LFS productions. LFS shows work at over 150 film festivals around the world each year, and supports sales of films to broadcasters and distributors. The library also holds an extensive collection of films for loan, plus a small collection of core books. Students have also access to the BFI Reference Library, which is within ten minutes walk.
Coffee BarThe school has a privately-run coffee bar on the ground floor.
Long Acre BuildingOur annexe building offers additional facilities for the MA Programmes and International Programmes and Workshops.
Clubs and SocietiesThe Students Union is affiliated with the NUS and LFS students are entitled to NUS Extra cards, offering a range of benefits. LFS is also affiliated to International student house/UCKISA. Our clubs and societies include the LFS Film Society and an LFS football team, which arranges matches against other film schools. LFS is a full member of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television), the international confederation of film schools, GEECT (European Grouping of Film and Television Schools) and NAHEMI (National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image) the national association for british film schools.