Across America, there are many educational institutions that house the resources necessary to support the world’s next generation of great filmmakers. However, like any other path of study, it costs money. Film scholarships can help students lighten that financial burden and bring them on their way to being great creators of visual arts.
Do you ever wonder who could be the next Tarantino or Kubrick? Maybe you even aspire to that level of fame for yourself. If you’re looking to study film, don’t put it past yourself! Keep on reading to find and apply for the top film scholarships!
Jump ahead to…
- How to win film scholarships
- Resources for film students
- Frequently asked questions about film scholarships
- Explore these additional scholarship categories
How to win film scholarships
Since you have a new list of film scholarships to apply for, it’s important to make sure you’re up to the task! Some of your applications might require you to submit a piece of your work or write an essay. Either way, making your submissions stand out is the key to winning scholarships like these. Be sure to showcase what film means to you, and how the scholarships could impact your quality of education or future success in your career.
Check out some of these resources to help you make your application stand out:
- Write a winning scholarship essay
- Learn about common scholarship prompts
- End your essay with a splash
Resources for film students
American Society of Cinematographers
The American Society of Cinematographers is a great way to network and get access to mentors in your field. This organization also offers scholarships, master classes, and events for students to get involved in. These opportunities are free and can be utilized to expand your knowledge of cinematography.
Film festivals
One of the best ways to get eyes on your films is to submit them to a film festival. There are a variety of festivals depending on your state, genre of film, and much more. You can even participate in festivals as a high school student, such as the All American High School Film Festival or the National Film Festival for Talented Youth! Some of the awards can range from prize money to spotlight on your film project.
Film organizations at your school
You should be on the lookout for student organizations on your campus. Clubs and organizations can be a big help to getting to know peers in the industry and connect with mentors and faculty. You’ll also be able to get feedback on your work, and gain further appreciation for film.
Related: Film major overview
Frequently asked questions about film scholarships
Can you get scholarships for being a YouTuber?
There are scholarships out there for YouTubers, but this is a field ridden with scam scholarships. When applying for scholarships based on your YouTube account or videos, be careful when giving out personal information. You should never give out your password or private information.
If you are a YouTuber, you are probably talented at making videos at home, and maybe even vlogging. This would set you up well to earn video scholarships. These scholarships have video components to their application. You’ll be able to showcase your ability for telling a compelling story via video.
Can you use film scholarships for acting?
Many film scholarships can also be applied to acting! For example, the Ocean Awareness Contest is a very open-ended scholarship for artistically-minded students. You can apply for it through acting, visual art, film music, or a host of other skills.
But be aware that not every film scholarship can be used for acting. Always make sure to go over the terms and conditions carefully before applying. If you have any doubts at all about your eligibility, reach out to the organization to clarify. This gives you the benefit of being sure that you’re eligible, as well as making contact with someone at the organization. This could encourage them to pay special attention to your application.
Do you have to study film to get a film scholarship?
Not necessarily! Some film scholarships do not require that you major in film. So, hobbyist filmmakers might be able to partially fund their college education with film scholarships, even if they never take a film class in school.
However, you should note that if you are already in college, many film scholarships will require that you major in the field. For the most part, the scholarships with the least strict requirements will be ones that you can apply to in high school.
What are the most prestigious film schools?
It’s hard to answer this question definitively, as prestige is subjective to many different factors. However, some of the film schools often mentioned as the most prestigious are:
- University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
- New York University Kanbar Institute of Film & Television
- Beijing Film Academy
- American Film Institute Conservatory
- London Film School
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Scholarships for art students
- Scholarships for high school seniors
- Top video scholarships
- Easy scholarships to apply for
- Transfer scholarships
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