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# MovieMaker magazine names Santa Monica College among 30 best film schools
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/moviemaker-magazine-names-santa-monica-college-among-30-best-film-schools/
- Published: 2026-09-02T18:59:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-02T18:58:59.000Z
- Author: Maaz Alin
- Tags: News, Santa Monica College

Santa Monica College has again been named one of the best film schools in North America, appearing on MovieMaker magazine's list of the 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. & Canada.

It is the college's fourth time on the list, which this year includes 32 institutions because of ties. SMC appears alongside AFI Conservatory, Columbia University, NYU and UCLA, among others.

MovieMaker's annual list recognizes schools that prepare students for every aspect of filmmaking. The magazine cited SMC for providing access to students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, charging just $46 per unit for California residents, and for a campus located near the heart of the industry with a strong record of transfers to nearby UCLA.

The college offers two-year film studies and film production programs, allowing students to focus on scholarly theory or filmmaking. Instruction covers preproduction, production and postproduction, taught by faculty who work in the industry.

"This distinction validates the unique approach of our program: our faculty is composed of professional filmmakers who are actively teaching, challenging, and helping our students achieve what they set out to do with rigorous on-set guidance and mentorship," said Salvador Carrasco, SMC film production faculty lead. He said the approach gives graduates role models to emulate in working methods, safety procedures and high-standard results.

Since launching in fall 2010, the award-winning program has produced more than 30 short films tied to its capstone class, Film 33\. Eight SMC student films have been selected for or won accolades at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the American Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival, including 2021 Best Student Film winner "Broken Layers."

The program's first short, "Solidarity," is now a feature film directed by SMC alum Dustin Brown and executive produced by Darren Aronofsky and Carrasco, among others. It premiered at Dances With Films: Los Angeles on June 19, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.

SMC student films have also won awards at the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum, the Panavision Limelight Award at the Ojai Film Festival, Best Short at the Vienna Independent Film Festival, the Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival, several Gold Remi Awards at WorldFest-Houston, Best Short Drama at the San Diego International Film Festival, Best Short at the Prague Independent Film Festival, the Prix Interculturel at the International Festival of Film Schools in Munich, and the Women's Independent Film Festival.

The program has received grants from The Golden Globe Foundation and co-production sponsorships from Keslow Camera, Roundabout Entertainment and the Next Generation Indie Film Awards Foundation.

SMC offers an Associate of Science degree and Certificate of Achievement in Film Production. To learn more, visit smc.edu/film or email Carrasco\_Salvador@smc.edu. The program is on YouTube as the "Santa Monica College Film Program" channel. The list appears in MovieMaker's latest issue and online at moviemaker.com.

Edited by SMDP Staff