2025 High School Scholarship

• 1 full-tuition (100%) and 2 partial (50%) scholarships for each the following VFS programs:
• Film Production
• Acting for Film & Television
• Writing for Film, Television & Games
• Classical Animation
• Animation Concept Art
• Foundation Visual Art & Design

• Applicants must graduate high school in 2025 or 2026.
• A valid passport that expires no earlier than 180 days from completion date of your program.
• You must meet the English proficiency requirements to study abroad:
• English proficiency
• IELTS (Academic) - Band 6.5 
• TOEFL iBT - score of 80
• PTE - score of 56+
• CELPIP- Level 8
• CEFR/Cambridge English - C1 (180 or higher)
• LPI - Level 5
• Duolingo - score of 120
• Final transcripts from high school(s) attended. Transcripts can be in native language.
• A resume or CV detailing your work history and education (in English).
• Two recommendation letters that include the contact information for your references. Preferably instructors or academic advisors. Recommendations must be in English and include contact information, and may be verified.
• An open letter in English (500-750 words) addressed to “[Name of Your High School] & VFS Scholarship Committee” explaining why you feel you deserve this scholarship. Outline exactly how this scholarship will benefit your career development. Additionally, explain why you believe you will be successful in the entertainment industry and how this scholarship will help you accomplish your goals.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Scholarship winners must pay $150 CAD application fee if they accept the scholarship.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These requirements are mandatory, without exception. All documents (except transcript) must be in English and total files cannot exceed 10MB.

• The deadline to apply is October 31, 2025. Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Scholarships are valid only for the following start dates:
• Film Production: Full scholarship start date is October 26, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1, 2026, October 26, 2026, or January 4, 2027.
• Acting for Film & Television: Full scholarship start date is October 26, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1, 2026, October 26, 2026, or January 4, 2027.
• Writing for Film, Television & Games: Full scholarship start date is September 1, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1, 2026 or January 4, 2027.
• Classical Animation: Full scholarship start date is September 1, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1, 2026 or January 4, 2027.
• Animation Concept Art: Full scholarship start date is September 1, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1 or October 26, 2026.
• Foundation Visual Art & Design: Full scholarship start date is October 26, 2026. Partial scholarship dates are September 1, 2026, October 26, 2026, or January 4, 2027.
• If selected, the applicant must cover their flight, accommodation, meals, and international insurance (assess approximate cost of living in Canada).
• If selected, the applicant must complete an online VFS application (this will be specified by a VFS advisor).
• The selected winners will need to send their portfolio required by VFS for the program selected.
• Applicants who have already been accepted into a VFS program can apply for this scholarship; however, this scholarship must be used singularly and cannot be used in combination with any other bursary or scholarship already received. Previous applicants must re-submit their application with a completed scholarship application form.

• You must prepare a video in English, with a maximum duration of 60 seconds, including the following: 
• You must begin by mentioning your name, your school, and VFS program of interest.
• Make a brief statement of your why you want to study at VFS in your program of choice.
• You must display a summary of your best projects and describe them while they are shown.
• In case of team projects, you must clearly specify your role on it, either verbally or through subtitles.
• The video must be posted on YouTube or Vimeo and be accessible via link.

• Upload your audition to a video hosting site (YouTube, Vimeo, a personal website, etc.) and send the link to VFS.
• Audition must be specifically created for VFS according to the Content Requirements provided below and must be clearly identified as such. 
• Learn more about How to Submit a Self Tape.

• Tape must be a maximum six minutes in length and must be in the following format:
• State your name on camera
• Demonstrate a contemporary film monologue in less than one minute
• Demonstrate a short contemporary scene (applicant should be on camera and the reader off camera) in less than one minute
• Optional: provide a maximum one-minute demo of a special skill (i.e., singing, dance, physical action, etc.)
• Provide answers to the following questions in a maximum of two minutes:
• Why did you choose your audition pieces?
• How long have you wanted to act?
• Who inspired you to want to pursue an acting career?
• What are your strengths & weaknesses as an actor?
• If you can't be an actor, what would you choose to be?

• A 6-8-page short film script (with 1 to 3 speaking characters), written in English, the script should include a cover page with the applicant’s name, date, and script title. This document should not exceed 1 MB.
• The script must be a “feel-good” story that praises positive principles such as solidarity, loyalty, forgiveness, kindness, love, compassion, hope, sympathy, joy, etc. Scripts that do not meet these criteria will be disqualified. The jury will critique all scripts based on Narrative Structure, Dialogue, and Character Creation.
• At the end of the script, please include a one-page (maximum) synopsis of this script. Include the genre and use references to other movies, television shows, or games that served as inspiration. Note: The cover page and synopsis are not included in the 6-8-page limit. Please ensure all materials are uploaded in a single PDF document.

• Winners will be notified on November 15, 2025.
• VFS reserves the right to cancel each full scholarship if there are less than 15 applicants per program.
• The committee decision is final.

• Vancouver Film School reserves the right to cancel this competition at any time, at its sole discretion, in the event of any administrative conflict or error. Vancouver Film School reserves the right to modify the rules of this contest in any way or at any time as long as reasonable notice is given. This competition is void where prohibited by law and is subject to all applicable Federal, Provincial, State, and local laws and regulations.
• Acceptance of a scholarship allows Vancouver Film School to use your name, photograph or likeness and testimonials in print, broadcast, or online media in perpetuity, in any manner in which VFS may deem appropriate in connection with promoting this competition or any other competition or promotion sponsored by VFS, without further compensation.
• By participating in this competition, you agree that Vancouver Film School, members of the Selection Committee and those involved in the development, production, implementation and distribution of this competition and their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, service providers, and agencies and their directors, officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any other person or entity associated with such entities and/or this compassion (hereafter collectively called the “Sponsors”) are not liable for any claims, damages, losses or injuries, including third party claims, arising from or relating to, in whole or in part, this competition, including your entry and participation in this competition, the submission of your application package, the evaluation of your application package, acceptance, use or misuse of the scholarship or any injury to you or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from downloading or receiving via return e-mail any part of this competition information.
• You further agree that you will not hold Vancouver Film School, their affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, agents, employees, attorneys, and any other person or entity associated with Vancouver Film School liable for any claims, losses, damages or injuries, arising from or relating to their use of your name or address for mailing and any other promotional materials. You also agree that in the event of any third-party claims, damages, losses or injuries arising from or relating to this competition, you will indemnify Sponsors from any and all such claims, including the attorney’s fees related thereto. Sponsors shall not be liable for applications that are delayed, lost, misdelivered, marked postage-due, illegible, mutilated, incorrect or incomplete and such entries will not be eligible for this competition.
• This scholarship has no cash value.