There's been a lot said of this place. Some of it is exaggerated, some of it isn't. I recently graduated from their flagship program, Film Production. Was it worth 37 thousand dollars? Short answer, no. But, I'll provide more information. For starters, the program moves very fast. It's honestly too much to pack in one year and really benefits those with previous education and experience. In my class, the students who did well in cinematography literally all had either professional experience or degrees in film. It definitely surprised me that a lot of people from foreign countries who go to VFS already have careers and use this program to get started in North America. Beyond that, so much of your success in this program is based on how much you vibe with your class. There's new intakes every two months so it really is a dice roll. Your class only does 5-6 final projects and you and your classmates vote on which ones to do. From there, the students who get their pitch get to choose all the roles. There's literally no checks and balances from the teachers if you want a certain role and want to get your money's worth out of this THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR program. There's also very little to do in the final term. I just wanted some more lectures to potentially learn something after the finals had fizzled out. Some positives are that you get a lot of experience with professional equipment. You get to sub through every role in the first two terms. I did learn a lot, honestly. But like, I've already directed more outside of VFS than I did in that entire year (and it has cost me a lot less!). Due to the speed of the program, you'll "learn" one type of software for one assignment and then you're already onto a new one for the next assignment. I thought I'd be covered by purchasing the entire Adobe Suite. Nope! We used Premiere Pro for Term 1 but for Term 2 we switched to Avid and that's what we used for the remainder of the course. Why? I think it's as simple as VFS wanting to include both in their course sequence. On top of that, you're expected to use a strange software called Movie Magic for budgets and schedules, because it's "industry standard". And yep, Movie Magic certainly isn't free so of course I was restricted to using the computers at school. VFS is in Gastown and it's NOT a nice area of town. It's really quite appalling what you see around there and I did not personally want to stay at school long hours into the night. If you look at how much less tuition costs in University programs like UBC, CapU, Concordia etc. I just can't imagine that they wouldn't be more value for your money. Learning this stuff over years will also just give you so much more time to develop your own ideas and projects outside of the classroom. Overall, I just cannot recommend VFS. The backpack actually is pretty nice though. read more

I applied to the Game Design program at VFS one year ago with a scholarship and it has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I met some incredible and talented people, improved my skills as an artist and grew as a person. What I value the most about VFS are the instructors and staff in there. They are kind, respectful and so incredibly talented. The instructors have a strong industry background and they use that knowledge to teach you what you need to know to make it in the industry. I was an international student, so getting a job after graduating was a big concern, but even after graduating I was still receiving support from my instructors and mentors. I am now working in one of the best studios in Vancouver and I know I wouldn't be here thanks to the all help I received from the people that I met at VFS (: read more

I studied game design at VFS and it was a great experience all-around. I learned so much about the industry and picked up very tangible skills from programming to writing. The instructors were very helpful and knowledgeable and well-connected in the industry. It was an intense but rewarding program and I got my first job in the industry thanks to the instructors at the school. read more

Studying Game Design Program at VFs was one of the best experiences I had in these past years. I will always look back with nostalgia at the incredible people and instructors I met there. Great program to prepare yourself AND enter the videogame industry. They offer scholarships on their website if price is an issue. Student service is phenomenal and equipment inside campus is top notch. read more

Going to the game design program at this school was probably the best decision of my life I've made up to this point. Every Instructor, TA, and Mentor you get to work with genuinely cares about the students and goes above and beyond to help the students. Thanks to the incredible education and connections given to me by the school, I was able to go straight from graduating High School, to going to school here, straight to working professionally in the games industry. read more

Two years of my life, $100,000 of student loan debt, a school that lives by its motto of "results matter" -- students don't. Since graduating I've struggled with suicidal depression brought on by the immense debt I was convinced into getting in order to go to this for-profit school. Every single day somewhere in my mind I think about what I could have done, or could be doing, with that money instead, and that was a decade ago. My favorite part is where one of the assistant department heads literally told the women in the class "You can get a job in the industry, or you can be a mom, you can't be both." Absolutely avoid this place, they only care about your money. Any good teacher that cares about students and education left long ago. read more

I applied to the Game Design program at VFS through a scholarship partnership that my university back home offered (Universidad de La Sabana, Bogotá, Colombia). I knew a bumpy road full of challenges and obstacles was ahead, but what I didn't know was that it was gonna become one of the best decisions I've made in life. Today after graduating from VFS and with almost one year of Industry experience, I must say that that statement has been reassured. Of course, at the beginning, back when I became a student at VFS I had to be careful. Not only because I was studying one of the most competitive industries in the world, but because moving away from home represented financial and personal/family challenges that I had to carefully plan to overcome. I recommend VFS to anyone passionate and serious about any of the programs that the school has to offer. I can reassure you that it is a matter of putting in the effort and energy to move one step closer to your dream. read more

The Writing for Film/TV/Games program at VFS is excellent. It is intense, but well structured, and the instructors are among the best I have had at any school. They are also connected in their industries and willing to help successful students and alumni find their way into their first jobs. VFS is the type of school where the work you put in determines your outcome. The Writing program is challenging, even for experienced students, but I feel like it has given me a polished portfolio and the skills and confidence to be a creative professional in a number of entertainment industries. read more

Graduated in 2011... have been working in the film industry full time for 5 years now. Bottom line; technically specific courses like sound design, game design are almost a must in getting a job in the industry... other faculties are basically useless as you can start work as a PA and learn on the job. Results matter only in what you put in. The industry is an absolute grind to start out in but well worth it once you've paid your dues. I started as a PA, got my days and finished a TAD course recommended by the DGC. I also worked as a IATSE sound assistant (what I went to VFS for) and I am a full member of Teamsters. Work hard, learn smart and don't give up. VFS can be a vital tool but can also be a total waste of money depending on the field you want to work in. read more

VFS no matter what changes you make to the school won't make a difference it isn't the school but the teachers and what you teach that needs the change. This school is nothing but a revolving door they don't inspire you to want to act but only to get you to spend more money for the full year lol WHAT A SHAME WHAT A WASTE.I went to VFS acting program, 10 grand BTW, and it was horrible vie relized its mainly for people who want to relive there glory days of high school. My experience was where the teachers kiss the popular kids ass but if you weren't popular they didn't bother so much with you and it was exactly like re-living high school for me I cried a lot there. So if your a rebel and have a true artist soul not a doosh-bag sheep snob then your'll have a shitty time and feel very left out. When I went there I expected to do a lot of plays but no. The whole time I was there it was basically just jumping around and them asking about stuff you can never use and remember, and them talking about there acting days, think about it these teachers are people who didn't make it what right do they have to teach acting or to say what is acting? plus one of the teachers I asked for some advice about school she ignore me the teachers there aren't artist there SCAM ARTIST!. VFS IS NOTHING BUT A SCAM you learn more when your in high school plays! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. SCAM SCAM SCAM Vancouver Film School should be shut down ! Very Freaking Shittay School is there real logo. read more

Very disappointing. They let anybody in. The school is not competitive at all! A guy that I was in class with, who was from Canada, could hardly string a thoughtful sentence together. It seems as if many of the teachers are resentful of their jobs, even resentful of students. They try to take credit for their student's work. Go to NYU, go to USC, UCLA, go to a real school. Literally anywhere else!! read more

Why is the VFS photo a picture of a dude? Is that guy the founder or something? Weird. Anyways, I really enjoyed my experience at VFS in 2007. I was part of the Film Production program and I found employment almost immediately after graduation on a film set. When I moved to Los Angeles and started working on Adult Swim and Comedy Network shows, I got to work with a bunch of other Production Assistants from schools such as USC, NYU and AFI who did not have their act together. They couldn't operate a C-Stand and didn't know the general lingo that happens on a film set. While working on independent shorts by people from other schools, I saw some of the worst lighting set ups, disorganization, and unprofessional displays.. but it was the complete opposite when I work with people from VFS. I happen to be lucky enough to not have needed a student loan for the school.. I forget how much it was when I went there but it wasn't as much as it is now ($35,000). I vaguely remember that it was $10,000 cheaper! Anyways, is it worth it now? I can't say for sure... I think the quality of instruction is generally the same. A lot of the same instructors are there from when I attended. It really depends on what you want to do on a film set... I would suggest it for art, assistant directing, camera (assistant camera) but not if you want to be a director or writer. Good luck! read more

I have a disability and was treated horribly by one of the senior instructors. She left me feeling humiliated in front of the class and called me lazy after I disclosed I was on psychiatric medications. It's a private college so accessibility is lacking. I did not pay 10k to be discriminated against. If you have similar experiences by the instructor Mattie Shisko know that you're not alone and don't tolerate it. read more

One of the best experience ever, you get how much give into it. Great Intstructors and great support, helped me get my first agent.

I graduated from the Digital Design program and I have to say it was an awesome experience. The year is very intense but fun. Throughout the year we were giving a lot of hands on projects, which I felt helped me a lot in my current job. I also liked how all of my teachers worked in the industry-I felt they were very knowledgeable with what was currently happening in the design world. As far as getting a job after school I had no trouble at all. I feel that VFS helped me build a very strong portfolio. They also had industry nights where you get to meet different companies that are hiring-that is how I was hired. I think that as a school they do a great job helping you every step of the way. I love what I do and I am happy I made the decision to attend VFS. read more

I had a great time in the sound design for visual media program. The instructors were amazing, always helpful and willing to spend time one on one with all of us students. My classmates were top notch as well and learned as much with them as with my instructors. The program is very very very hands on, we got plenty of assignments and encouragement to have extra curricular projects, which were easy to get by the way, since you can't avoid running into students from other programs, even if you want to! (that's a good thing) Like many other schools you get what you put into it; if you push yourself hard enough, you WILL take a lot out of it! Is it easy to get a job after? erhmmm.... NO! But it certainly gives you enough knowledge and experience to get work after graduation. The school never promises any one to get them placement! BUT lots of students that work hard enough and are passionate about what they do get referred to professionals in the industry and DO get jobs out of that! read more

I could tell from the absurdly expensive tuition fees ($20,000 a year? $32,000 a year?) that this school was a scam. We had film schools like this in Toronto. They're money making businesses that offer little value to the student. Don't fall prey to it. Go to a real school. You shouldn't be paying more than $6000 a year for most programs. read more

7+ years after graduating from VFS 3D Animation and Visual Effects and working in the industry, I and my ex-classmates agreed that VFS is way F- overpriced for what we learned there. Especially right now in year 2018, we now have the damn luxury of QUALITY video tutorials for FREE and communities where you can ask tons of questions for FREE. Back then, its facility sucked, compared to the industry standard. slow computers, monitors sucked. Ant Farm was crowded, building was old. Security would wake you up and shoo you away if you slept at the small cafeteria there overnight because you missed the bus / train. Most courses were useless; they forced you to learn everything, 2D and 3D animation, modeling, and VFX. When some people already knew what they wanted to focus on. Film history? fun? waste of time and money! Back then, no course on Zbrush when it's already a thing outside VFS. What does that mean? VFS is not the most up-to-date school and definitely NOT the best. Only a very few instructors were really good. very few. Not sure about now, but my advice is the same: - LEARN ONLINE for FREE. SO MUCH RESOURCE for FREE! - Practice, Practice, Practice! - Ask questions online for FREE. - do NOT go to VFS. Yes they do work with a few companies to hire their grads, but rather than betting on VFS, it's way smarter to bet on your own skills that will definitely serve you in both the short and the long run. read more

Really depends on the program. I've heard good things about the Sound Design, and Film Production. I went through the Game Design program a few years back. Short, sweet, and a good amount of work. I learned a decent amount, but classes could be a bit of a shitshow. I get the impression that most of my peers currently don't have jobs in the industry a few years going on, but it is seriously competitive market. I personally do know at least three people of the thirty who work at very nice AAA jobs here in town, so there are ups and downs. There's only so much you can learn in the classrooms though, and there just isn't enough time to really go in depth into anything- so the ultimate onus is on you to keep growing and learning during and after the class. read more

The biggest regret of my life to date. I honestly feel like such an idiot for going to VFS. do NOT believe their over-selling. i spent a year in an "intense" program with teachers who could not give a single shit. Go and attend another one of the ACTUAL SCHOOLS in vancouver that provide similar programs. This "school" (can you even call it that?) does not offer credit transfers, is absurdly expensive, and it's so painfully obvious that they lure international students here so they can charge them more $$$. Honestly, this place should get shut down. The staff are unprofessional, they barely have a guidance counselling/social worker in the building. God, I could go on for hours. I hope this review helps save a lot of poor suckers some cash. read more

I went to their 2D animation course. Upon graduation I couldn't find a job in the industry along with all of my classmates. I was told by potential employers that they don't have the resources to train people how to animate and draw. One other "employer" hinted that I should work for free. Long story short, you cannot become a traditional animator in a year. It's a lie and they take advantage of your stupidity for believing their lie. I'm still paying back tens of thousands in debt for something I will never be able to use. I have since painfully transitioned into a different career that actually pays money. If you are dead set on enrolling in their 2D animation course ask them some questions first, like how many of your students end up working in the 2D animation industry long term. The teachers there often had conflicting drawing styles and methods which made things confusing. Don't go! read more

I DO NOT recommend Vancouver Film School. It is not really a school. Another Alum so perfectly described it: "The 'school' seems to me to be little more than an assembly line, ushering people in and out as quickly as possible, while giving no thought or care to their personal well-being: past present or future. Far greater priority is given to marketing and perception than to the actual quality of the learning experience it provides. VFS is not a school. It is a product. It does not have students or teachers. It has customers and employees." Do not believe the hype they spread all over the internet. I attended the Film Production Program in 2007-2008 and paid more than $50,000 in tuition to get treated with very little respect, to get sexually harassed by a teacher, to have instructors spread gossip during class time, and they set this criteria for students to know what they are judged on for film/crew selections... but they don't follow it! They say you have to pass certain tests to work in certain departments... but it doesn't matter. They say you have to have good attendance to be selected to direct... but no. Students with terrible attendance get to direct all of the time. It's a wild card. The school has NO INTEGRITY. It is NOT A SCHOOL. VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL IS A SCAM! read more

I was in 3D Animation&VFX and i could not hate my life more. - There are not enough instructors in the school depends on their field even the mentors they hire are not sufficient in knowledge. You ask a question the most you get is 'we don't use that anymore' or 'i am not a texture artist, i am a modeler' then you ask okay how should i model this and you get ' I don't use that software' sometimes you can get a single 'I don't know' Well it is okay not to know everything but then ask your colleagues ask around you suppose to teach and you can learn too! I can give lots of examples like that. Also, most of the mentors and teacher assistants were not professional in attitude.They were good ones too of course. -The assignments were hard and they expect you to submit in a very short amount of time. The struggle was they think with 1 fast lesson when they think they taught you a full of software use. You had to be experienced which we did have people like that a lot yet they were still struggling. -Lack of computers. When you cannot find an available computer that you can leave your render for 3 days you are screwed yet you can find an available one but there is no guarantee that no one will kill it. After term 3 you will have your own computer and partly allowed to use render farm. -Air Conditioning. Well you spent time at some place for at least 10 hours a day. What you do is sit down in front of a computer. And middle of the winter air conditioning hits right on you. No wonder why you can see blankets everywhere. -Intense Program. Intense program means showing you everything cursory. What you get is all up to you. You have to do your research you have to find your own resources. Once in a while they help you too! But honestly and mostly it is %80 up to you. Not to mention people do sleep on the floors or you can see people try to finish their project at 5.00 am in the morning. Ahh Intense? or Insane? - Money. Yes and your suffering will cost you a lot. Those are my experiences. I hope that would be helpful and i do apologize sharing not very happy facts. read more

It has been a number of years now, so perhaps the place has changed. But let's just say I wasn't overly impressed with the quality of instruction or enthusiasm of this place overall. A lot of my (multimedia) courses ended up semi-self taught (or more). When the teachers don't believe in the future of the product they're teaching, it's not a good sign (and I can say for sure the product has a good future... I'm working on that very same product now). Just my personal opinion, of course, but I'd consider other routes where you're not paying off the cost for many years. read more

This is totally true. I was a classical animation student there, and I felt my money went to waste and I did not learn anything I would need to find a job. It's more like a "make your own little elementary film and congratulate yourself after" I truly regret going there. If you are thinking of going, please read more reviews on the internet, and find a better school to invest your time/money into. read more

I Went there studying to study foundation / sound design, definitely NOT a good investment of time. I spent a year working with out dated equipment, horrible recording rooms, it was a constant fight for equipment (literally). I could go on a year long rant on how disappointing this school was. Overall the price of admission vs the teachers & school overall feel and representation is very low. DO NOT GO HERE. the amount of money spent is ridiculous for the trade-off of what you actually get to learn and do. The one of the few reasons the school caught my interest was the experience of the teachers themselves, this is true, however (as i soon found out) they merely throw / read the teachings at you, rather than actually teaching you the skills. Since its such a fast paced course, one needs to ask questions, i would say 80% of the teachers hate or feel annoyed to help students out of school hours and to make things worse the feel of most of the staff is Pathetic moral, lazy, and plain rude / unprofessional of an institute. The head of the department (no names mentioned) is rather unprofessional, lazy, etc.. (i could go on & on). overall synopsis; VFS is a very intense, non proffesional feeling of an institute, where the materials learned is 70% self taught read more

I did go to Vancouver film school years ago before transferring and completing my more extensive film course at Cap U. The classes I took were pre courses for entry into the Cap U full time program with a few basics in still and animation drawing under my belt. Most were night courses that were taught well, teachers that were great and a class that was supportive. Due to cost and reputation at the time I did decide to finish at Cap U read more

No good. Waste of money. Audition for a real theatre school if you are prepared to spend that kind of cash.

Vancouver Film School's Video Game Design program is an intensely demanding, challenging opportunity to get your foot in the door in the local video industry. That being said, it is completely worth it, if you are willing to give yourself over for a year, and spend not only the money, but the time to make yourself and your work the best it can possibly be coming out the other end. Going into any school program, the best thing that you can do for yourself is your OWN homework - research the faculty, the facilities, and the post-grad hire rate. I did all these things, and found that VFS was the best place to spend my money to get the education I was looking for. However, the one thing you really don't bank on, is the time you will spend there. On average, I was spending most every weekday from ~9am until ~9pm at school, making sure that my assignments were top quality, and my homework was completed. In this, I managed to secure weekends for myself. However, depending on how fast you pickup the course and tools, your results could vary. I'm laying out the time requirement to give you an idea of the investment on your end, as a student, and a customer of the school. Always keep in mind, it is a school and a business, and their objective is to get you hired. The faculty will do their part, but it's up to you to make sure you take advantage of what they offer constantly. That being said, MAKE CONTACTS. The school is staffed by extremely talented, influential people from the local industry, and if you don't take complete advantage of that fact, you're wasting your money. Even if you don't do exactly what your teachers advise in terms of project work, keep in mind - they are advising you from a place of experience, so at the very least, understand their motivation, and respect their opinions, even if you don't follow their advice. They are good people to know, and integral to finding employment past the course and it's offerings as well. While the program may have been a huge challenge (I commuted 3-4 hours daily with a laptop to make sure I got assignments done), I will say that it was easily one of the best experiences of my life in terms of education, and the employment that I found coming out of the program is an awesome first step into my continuing career as a Game Designer. I absolutely recommend VFS if you are willing to sacrifice that year to give yourself an opportunity for the rest of your life. read more

Absolutely worth it. A recent graduate of the Writing for Film and TV program, I was working in the oil industry prior and have three kids, so it wasn't exactly a piece of cake to just drop everything and follow a dream. I talked to the head of the department several times before coming (Michael Baser - very helpful and eminently personable), asking hard questions and realizing this would ultimately be a leap of faith. I don't regret it for a second. My experience was that the teachers cared deeply about us, the quality of our writing, and our ultimate success as professionals. I've been writing for years, but I still learned a TON at VFS - not only how to write, but how to effectively network within the industry and, most importantly, how to discipline my writing habits and structure myself for the actual business of writing. And I walked out with a wicked writing portfolio, with samples across multiple media formats from film to TV to advertising and beyond. But keep in mind, this isn't the typical post-secondary education-by-spoon-feed; it's real-world and intensely practical. You only get out if you put in. I can't speak for all departments, but the Writing dept runs a fantastic ship! read more

I am a recent graduate of Vancouver Film School from the digital design program, and overall I believe this the most intensive and productive year of my life. Throughout our time at VFS, we experienced and learned a lot of new stuff that has helped me grow into the designer and person that I am today. Their strong emphasis on process, as well as most of the assignment's given to us throughout the year, prepare you for what comes after school, so that once your done, you are ready to go out there and show the world what you've got. This has also been complemented by the fact that all the teacher are people in the industry, therefore you will always have someone to reach out for help and guide you, that understands how everything works, because they are already out there. Digital Design gives a strong emphasis in promoting your work, as well as organizing and industry night where you get to network and meet a lot of people in the industry. This event has proved to be very strong and helpful for students to find jobs, so as soon as you graduate you are already out there and known in the industry. At this school you will meet people that will influence your design career strongly, throughout the rest of your professional life, not only your classmates, but people from other programs, teachers and other course instructors. VFS is a great experience where you will not only learn the skills and techniques required to create and grow in your professional life, but will enjoy and grow as a person too. It is definitely worth it!! read more

First off let me say that I am a U.S. citizen. I had looked into going or attending classes at VFS or trying out for their students films. They are admittedly a little rough around the corners but then most film schools are. That being siad the students and the faculty are exceptionally nice and made me personally feel very welcome. It's a great place to dabble in and certainly worth considering. I can only speak from an outsider looking in but I have nothing to complain about really. read more

I started the Writing for Film Program in January and I can honestly say that VFS is a fantastic school. Teachers are super knowledgable and really care about your education. You definitely get the feeling that you're being prepared to work and thrive in the film industry. VFS is the place to be if you're looking for a comprehensive education that constantly encourages your own creativity. read more

As a current student at the classical animation program, my experience is, that VFS is not a film school. It is first and foremost a business with the priority of getting as many students (and their tuition payments) through the system as possible. In the application process, talented salespeople will call you up and say what they need to, to make sure that you get hyped about the school and enroll as quickly as possible. And the most difficult part of getting in, is proving you have the money for it. In my case, I noticed how they would change their way of describing the school, to better fit my wishes. I made live-action films before going into animation, and the filmmaking and storytelling aspect has always been what interested me the most. I was told that the core of the school was to make films. However, the reality was different when I got here. Storytelling is not prioritized and there is little to no interest in filmmaking from students as well as teachers. The focus of the school is entirely revolved around getting a job in the industry. Perfectly summed up, when a teacher advised us on our final films: "Don't mind the story, just make smooth animation. THAT'S who I wanna work with". VFS is a yearlong job application and nothing more. But it could and should be, in my opinion. So much resource of the school is put into its branding, and my impression is, that they have a business model based on selling an "American dream" of big film industry success to young and naive foreigners (50 % of the students) who are in over their heads, and ultimately leave in great debts if not saved by rich parents. With this in mind, it's no surprise that former students calling the school a "scam"occasionally will show up when searching for reviews. Although its understandable, I don't know if I would go that far in my description. I will say, that you get what you put into it and if you work hard you will leave with skills you didn't have before. And I have met many helpful instructors with the best intentions. But unfortunately it cannot make up for the fact that the top of the institution is so much driven by profit, instead of quality of education and the students work and well-being. read more

I ended up not going into the school for my application process alone. I was going in for Makeup Artistry and could not decide between Vancouver Film School and Blanche Macdonald 2 years ago. But after talking to VFS the decision to not go there was easy. I had only contacted VFS for a little information, I told them I was not sure yet if I wanted to apply and just needed a few questions of mine answered. Before they even would answer any of my questions I had to answer many of theirs. I thought nothing of it and answered them. I then got mail after mail and email after email of them almost hounding me to apply for the program, I even emailed one girl who works there to please stop and that I am thinking over everything. It stopped for maybe a week before she started sending me emails again. Then when I set up a phone interview with them I was running late and was driving when I got a call, I told the man that I was on the road and if I could call him back in 2 minutes (So I could get off the highway and park). When I parked and called the school back the receptionist was beyound rude. I explained that I had set up a phone interview and spent the next 5 minutes explaining o her that I had to hang up due to driving and he told me to call him back when I was parked (During this time she made it her job to point out how stupid I was for doing that) Then she asked for his name, I didn't know it, so I gave her my name and the time the call was suppose to be. She then put me on hold, I'm guessing she didn't do it right though, cause I heard her and some other girl talk about going out this coming weekend for about 5-8 minutes before she came back and said that she talked to some person and had no record of me needing a phone call (not knowing I just heard her the entire time talking bout how wasted she is going to get) After another 10 minutes I finally got put threw to the man I needed to talk to. It was a complete nightmare. I swear a fair amount, not a proud trait of mine, but the guy who was apparently high up in this school started to try and I guess make me feel more relatable to him by swearing. He was saying stuff like "Oh man, you will fucking love this program, like holy shit it is so cool." Then asked questions that he didn't need to know sch as what my family is like, what social class I am in (upper class, middle class, lower class), and other pointless stuff. Then I had found out that I had apparently "applied" for the school already, when they were asking questions threw emails they were literally tricking me into applying and when I would answer they would submit my answers in a application. The guy was going on about how I needed to pay them within the month if I wanted my application to stay. Then when I said I did not apply he said that he will send me a application threw email right now and since "he fucking loves me" he would accept it right away and I could send the tuition in and be going to school there full time. I was shocked that they seemed so desperate for me to apply, and I heard that many people got accepted so quickly. It took me 12 minutes (I was watching the clock) to finally hang up. I am a bit to polite and don't believe in just hanging up so I kept saying "Oh I gotta go," and "Ok bye," but he then would keep talking. After all that it was obvious that school was not good. For receptionists to treat people like that and for some director guy to talk like that and to be tricked into applying was ridiculous. read more

An amazing experience! The teachers are supportive, positive, and invested in their students future. I am very excited to be a part of such a wonderful community. read more

I graduated from the 3D Animation program. It is a great school, the staff is very friendly and has a lot of experience.

I attended VFS back in 2006 for the makeup artistry program . Back then the cost for tution was 29,500$ it included my makeup kit that was "valued at" 10,000$ . About two months into the program I really started to take notice that the teachers are very under educated and would deicde at the last minute to pull the class . I was very upset with the fact that when I applied for the program they told both myself and my mother that I would not have to pay for anything else while I was enrolled because they always had an excess of supplies. Well this was not the case and when i was in my 1st month they told all of us that we would NOT be allowed to take advantage of the extras and that we would have to pay for extra supplies on our own and we could expect around 200+ a month. I then deicded to go back to work on a PT basis to earn some extra income as I was already streatched very thinly . So when i started to go back to work I would work on the weekends , or after class on the weekdays for a few hours....This is now where I ran into the issues with VFS , I was tolf in the begining that class was from 9-5pm and that disscussions sometimes did run a bit over but it was optional if I wished to stay later and that it was ON My OWN TIME. I was then approched by the dept head and told that If I contiuned to leave before the discussion was over I would be kicked out of the class. I tried to explain what was happening and he said that even though the discussion was going over 5pm I was still required to be present. I ended up leaving VFS into my 3rd month and they also refused to give me my remaining makeup items that I PAID FOR .AVOID THIS SCHOOL AT ALL COST. read more

Wow... it is tough for me to read such critical reviews of VFS. While even I had some frustrations at times during my school year, I understand that no business is perfect and that miscommunication is inevitable during an educational year as intense as offered by VFS's. The incredible intensity of the Film Production program can be emotionally draining and I have seen this stress color how people view the school, but I felt more than sufficiently warned that I would have no life and no time outside of my program - and fully informed that a diversity of stresses would accompany that school year. There is no time to work on the side or snow board on the weekends. What I LOVED about the school was the teachers. The spirit and the substance of the school for me is made up of these incredible people. Yes some of them are graduates of VFS, but let me ask you this: if you were an industry professional with 20 years of on-set experience, wouldn't you keep working in the industry and not take time off to teach at a college? However many of the teachers are industry professionals. I found myself quite challenged by the material and pace of the classes whomever was teaching. Also as mentioned by someone else here, some students come to VFS with outstanding knowledge and experience already in the industry, so it seems unfair to immediately think that the post-graduate teachers are green in the industry and ill-qualified to teach. My teachers were my support and my guide - many of them became personal mentors for me. Even now as I am entering the working industry of film they invite me back and I am still benefiting from their expertise and advice though I am graduated. Because of my training in school and the opportunities I had to be exposed to industry professionals during the semi-professional Compendium shoot, I have worked on one independent feature film directly from school and am preparing for another this summer. One of the MAJOR BENEFITS of attending VFS is the vast network of film industry workers you will be connected to. That and the intensity will truly teach your body to be able to survive on little sleep when shooting on future sets ;) Yes, some of the departments in the Film Production course feel stronger than others - I imagine their cinematography course is UNMATCHED compared to other colleges - but the school is ever changing their program to strengthen every focus. They value input from students and changes are implemented every year based on the recommendations of the students. Yes the tuition is steep - for international students the Film Production course is just over $50,000 - but after researching it I found that in the long run it is cheaper than a University. At a University you usually pay $15,000 - $20,000 a year for four years and you take a plethora of classes outside of your film major. That's $60,000 - $80,000. VFS's program is equivalent to three years of college and has no classes outside of the film focus. VFS also understands that the film industry is changing faster and faster, and that by the time a 4 year degree student graduates, half of what he has learned is no longer considered current in the industry. And yes, I also had some frustrations throughout the year, but I talked to my teachers and the office staff about them as they arose. We were able to identify what caused my frustrations and they greatly appreciated whenever I brought it to their attention so they could make necessary adjustments or better prepare later classes as needed. Part of the source of many students frustrations stems from circumstances that can't be fully prepared for. For instance, VFS is TRULY international and thus misunderstandings or cultural brushing is going to occur. Additionally, since the teachers are industry professionals, sometimes they choose to re-enter the industry. With the cultural diversity of the teachers and new industry hires stepping into classes prepared by previous teachers, the class environment can change. But new teachers adjust and finesse their classes. This is to be expected and is certainly preferable to highly finessed teaching due to teachers not being in the industry for decades. So ask questions, do the research, talk to people who have graduated to get their different opinions on the school. If your concerned about a particular detail as some people mentioned, then get it in writing. It may not be right for everyone, but it was a great choice for me. Those who do go, I highly recommend making friendships with people above your class to give you a 'heads up' as the year goes on, and also make friends with people from other focuses like Makeup, EBM, etc. Being with your classmates all the time in such pressured situations can strain you and having friends apart from them to talk with helps you cope with the year. And have grace for your classmates - believe me, you'll need them to be gracious with you at times too. read more

when you click on " Speak to an Advisor" on the web site and put your country as african or arabic or islamic , they send you this : This is in regard to your inquiry to Vancouver Film School. We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission to your program of interest. Every year, we receive a large number of applications from throughout the world. As a result, VFS is not able to accept all applicants and this decision is based on factual and historical data, which indicate that the combined challenges around tuition prices, funding, relocation, and obtaining a study permit are insurmountable. We hope you will continue your search for a suitable school that is located in your region and we wish you the very best in your educational pursuits. this is the message for canadian or american visitors: Dear james CA, Thank you for your interest in finding out more about Vancouver Film School! Demand for VFS is at a record high, and start dates across all 13 of our programs are filling well in advance. VFS receives thousands of inquiries per month and this number continues to rapidly increase. As a result, it may take us a little longer than we'd like to get back to you, but you can expect to hear from us within 72 hours. We value your request and will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Best Regards, "Hey, stay in Your Own Country. We don't need you or want you. Only room here for certain people , it's too crowded already ,we don't care about your feelings , and we certainly don't have the time to talk to you ". read more