A film school is a generic name for any teaching institution for teaching movie making, includingscreen writing, theory, and film production.

Normally, hands on technical training is incorporated as one portion of the course, such as learning how to use light meters, cameras and other types of filmmaking gear. Most film schools are a part of existing colleges and universities, usually in art or communication departments. Some of them are privately owned and not connected to colleges, for instance technical schools providing associate degrees.

Various debates have been held over the years on the relative importance of film school in allowing someone to become a part of the film sector. clearly, example of both can be offered, as famous directors George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola graduated from famous film schools, but Quentin Tarantino had no formal film schooling.

The rapid rise of independent digital video and film making have modified this debate a bit, since anybody with a few thousand dollars can shoot a movie (and there are a few who have done so) with little formal schooling in the industry. Therefore, it can be argued that the costs of attending a film school may now be best spent on producing a movie.

Others argue that film training is essential because it allows students to network and get in touch with others involved in filmmaking, as well as with some people who might ultimately offer them opportunities in the film sector.