For the second consecutive year, Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television (SFTV) has earned a coveted spot among the top five film schools in the country, according to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 rankings of the “25 Best Film Schools in the U.S.”
“Being named one of the top five film schools in the nation two years in a row is an incredible honor,” said LMU SFTV Dean Joanne Moore. “It’s a testament to the tremendous commitment, drive, and creative excellence of our students and alumni, and the unwavering support of our faculty, staff, and industry partners. This tightknit community is dedicated to creating meaningful stories and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in film, television, and emerging media.”
“In a crowded field of L.A.-area film programs, LMU continues to compete with updates to curriculum and an emphasis on financial aid,” observed the prestigious film industry publication, which spotlighted several recent developments at SFTV, including creation of the course, “Producing and Screenwriting with AI,” which gives students hands-on experience with emerging artificial intelligence tools from the development process through the distribution stage.
The Hollywood Reporter also applauded LMU for its ongoing commitment to financial accessibility and inclusion. Scholarships remain a top priority in the school’s fundraising efforts, ensuring that talented students across the economic spectrum have the opportunity to attend and thrive at SFTV. That commitment extends beyond graduation, with programs that support alumni as they embark on their careers. Among SFTV’s’s standout initiatives is the Sony x LMU Social Impact Filmmaking Lab, which awards $25,000 grants and mentorship from Sony executives and LMU faculty to LMU alumni-led projects. Additionally, LMU offers fully funded scholarships each year to girls in the Women in Entertainment/Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentorship Program, expanding access to underrepresented voices in the industry.
This year’s rankings emphasized alumni achievements, with LMU lions continuing to make their mark with bold, original, and globally recognized work. Acclaimed producer Effie Brown (“The Inspection” and “Dear White People”), ’93, recalled a formative student internship on Robert Townsend’s “The Five Heartbeats” as a turning point in her career, crediting LMU for preparing her for the “realities of the industry through hands-on experiences.” The Hollywood Reporter also highlighted several other acclaimed graduates, including filmmaker Francis Lawrence, who directed “The Hunger Games” trilogy and the upcoming Stephen King adaptation “The Long Walk,” as well as Michael Jelenic, who co-directed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” which broke multiple box office records, including the biggest animated opening weekend ever for IMAX.
This back-to-back national recognition reflects LMU SFTV’s continued investment in the school’s cutting-edge curriculum, robust financial support for students, and an impressive alumni roster making an impact across the industry. Designed for aspiring filmmakers, writers, producers, and other innovators, SFTV offers the foundational skills, professional mentorship, and real-world opportunities that are essential to building a successful career. To learn more about SFTV, named the No. 5 film school in the nation, visit https://sftv.lmu.edu/.
