A film school is a general term for any educational institution dedicated to teaching moviemaking, includingwriting for the screen, production, and theory.

Usually, hands on training is incorporated as part of the curriculum, like learning how to use cameras, light meters and other types of movie resources. various film schools are a part of existing colleges and universities, generally in art or communication departments. Some of them are private and not tied to colleges, for instance technical schools furnishing associate diplomas.

Many arguments have been held over the years on the relative importance of film school in allowing one to enter the film industry. obviously, there are example of both, as famous directors George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola graduated from famous film schools, however Quentin Tarantino had no formal training.

The fast growth of independent digital video and film making have modified this debate somewhat, since anyone with a couple thousand dollars can produce a movie (and some have done so relatively successfully) with little formal knowledge of the film industry. Thus, it can be debated that the expense of attending a film school may now be better invested in producing a film.

Others contend that film school is essential because it allows students to network and contact others interested in filmmaking, as well as with those who may eventually offer them jobs in the movie industry.