Key Takeaways
- Vancouver Film School offers a production environment that integrates real-world industry experiences into every aspect of its creative industry training.
- Students collaborate directly with top companies like Sony PXO, Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, and the Vancouver Canucks on real productions.
- With world-class facilities and industry-driven bootcamps, VFS prepares students to be production-ready from day one.
At Vancouver Film School, the cameras are always rolling, the animations are always rendering, the levels are always loading, and, most importantly, stories are coming to life before our very eyes! This is due to one, simple fact: at VFS, we are ALWAYS in-production. From our current students to our alumni and our faculty – we are always creating.
We maximize this potential by creating a training environment that merges with the entertainment industry at every level. Essentially, we bring the industry directly to our campus and our curriculum!
VFS integrates real-world experiences into our hands-on film production training by embedding industry directly into our production centres, through collaborations on active industry productions, and by offering direct access to professionals working at the highest levels of film, animation, games, and creative design.
What VFS offers is not just an education – it’s a hands-on experience unlike any other.
Let’s break down how we do this:
VFS PRODUCTION CENTRES ARE TRUE INDUSTRY SPACES
Our production centers (a more accurate term for our ‘campuses’) are truly state-of-the-art training grounds. Featuring black box studios, a 180-degree green room, a 64,000 cubic ft. motion capture volume, post-edit suites, and the latest pro-grade tools, these spaces don’t just simulate professional environments – they are professional environments. These production centres ultimately give VFS students a leg up in their journey to the industry by allowing them to join the industry while they’re AT school.
These facilities also attract top studios and creatives who have come to VFS to work alongside our students on real industry productions (more on that below!), offering additional hands-on experience in environments that the industry trusts to get the job done.
VFS students create powerful work for their career portfolios in our world-class production centres (above: Term 2 Film Production shoots, June 2025).VFS WORKS ALONGSIDE THE INDUSTRY’S TOP COMPANIES…
When the industry requires support & resources – they call VFS. Vancouver Film School has built strong relationships with some of the industry's top companies, who choose to collaborate with VFS because they trust the professionalism, creativity, and talent of our students, faculty, and world-class facilities.
This work includes a commercial with Ryan Reynold’s Maximum Effort, the 2025 in-arena cinematic video for the Vancouver Canucks, and motion capture work for the 2025 Invictus Games – all of which have provided our students with real, on-set experience – above and beyond their program curriculum. These industry leaders return time and again to develop projects, scout talent, and engage with a school that consistently delivers production-ready graduates.
VFS remains committed to expanding these connections, always seeking new opportunities to bring real-world experiences into the classroom and ensure students are immersed in the industry from day one.
…AND SO DO OUR STUDENTS!
Industry leaders like General Motors (GM Global Design) and Tesla have partnered with VFS to collaborate on real-world projects – developed right inside the classroom as part of the students’ hands-on curriculum.
By integrating live client work into the learning experience, VFS ensures students are not only building their portfolios, but also gaining direct exposure to the demands and expectations of the professional world. VFS continues to pursue new industry partnerships that enrich education through meaningful, real-world collaboration.
VFS has formed strong, meaningful partnerships with industry leaders like Vancouver Canucks, Invictus Games, and Maximum Effort.WORK ALONGSIDE THE INDUSTRY’S BEST THROUGH ON-CAMPUS VFS EVENTS
In 2024, VFS introduced a brand-new event to our roster: In-Production Bootcamps. Open to the public and perfect for aspiring creatives, these intensive, hands-on training experiences bring industry leaders to VFS’s campus for 3-day production events.
Designed to simulate the fast-paced environment of film, animation, and game studios, these bootcamps give participants practical skills, mentorship, and direct exposure to professional workflows.
VFS has had the pleasure of working with Emmy-winning Director Michael Spiller, Actor & Emmy-winning Producer Gil Bellows, and our upcoming event with Metal Gear Solid’s David Hayter.
BUILDING NEW PROGRAMS WITH CREATIVE INDUSTRY LEADERS
Vancouver Film School has joined forces with likeminded creative industry leaders – renowned for their excellence – to build new, future-facing programs from the ground up. These partnerships are born from a shared commitment to innovation and a recognition of VFS’s proven ability to develop top-tier creative talent.
Companies with unique niches in the industry turn to VFS because they know its graduates are production-ready and equipped with the exact skills needed to thrive. The result is a powerful talent pipeline, where students train directly for real-world demands and transition seamlessly into some of the most sought-after roles in the creative world.
A prime example of this is VFS’s partnership with Sony’s Pixomondo (PXO) for a 12-week online certificate program in Virtual Production. Developed & taught by PXO – an Oscar-winning VFX & virtual production studio – the program upgrades experienced artists’ skill sets with the fundamentals of content creation for virtual production – a rapidly-growing sector of the entertainment industry utilizing advanced tech to generate virtual environments for film & television production.
THE TAKEAWAY?
With superior resources and access to the very best industry talent – anything everything is possible. If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, game dev, animator, designer (or just a creative rebel!), VFS is where you start your industry journey. Book an appointment with a VFS Advisor to learn more and start the application process.
US STUDENTS: This one’s just for you! If you’re ready to fast-track your film production training, find out how VFS is the fastest path to Hollywood for US students!
FAQ
1. What does “Always In-Production” mean at Vancouver Film School?
This means that at any given time, students, alumni, and faculty are actively working on projects that reflect the most current industry standards – be it for their career portfolios or for top industry companies – producing content across film, animation, games, and creative design.
2. Are students involved in actual industry work while studying?
Yes! Many VFS students have the opportunity to collaborate on real industry productions during their training with companies like Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort, the Vancouver Canucks, Invictus Games, and more.
3. What kind of facilities does VFS offer?
VFS features production-grade environments including black box studios, green screens, a motion capture volume, and post-production suites.
4. How does VFS connect with industry professionals?
Through bootcamps, guest mentorships, live client projects, and industry-developed curriculum, VFS brings professionals directly to campus to work hands-on with students.
5. What types of careers can VFS grads pursue?
Graduates go on to successful careers in film & TV production, animation, game development, digital design, sound design, and virtual production, often with global studios in Canada, Hollywood, and abroad.