RIT’s School of Film and Animation named among the top 50 best film schools by ‘TheWrap’

Unique program offerings, technological expertise, and cutting-edge facilities earned RIT’s School of Film and Animation (SOFA) another placement on a top film school ranking list this year. RIT placed 29th in TheWrap’s Top 50 Film Schools for 2024 list, marking the first year RIT was featured in this ranking.

This new accolade comes on the heels of the school being recognized by The Hollywood Reporter as 25th in their annual film school rankings list. Shanti Thakur, director of the school, shared her excitement about SOFA’s continued recognition on a national stage.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students from the past to the present. It is an honor for SOFA to be recognized by this prestigious publication,” said Thakur. “The continued recognition of our school through rankings like this inspires us as we work toward creative excellence in everything we do.”

TheWrap cited RIT’s strength in the technological aspects of film when granting the ranking, particularly in animation. The publication explained that RIT is one of the few schools to offer instruction in stop-motion animation. Student access to cutting-edge facilities like the MAGIC Center and the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) was also considered when granting the ranking.

Housed in RIT’s College of Art and Design, SOFA has a long history of producing high-achieving graduates who have made immediate impacts within the industry, according to Dean Todd Jokl. Being included in The Wrap’s top film schools list, as well as other recent accolades, illustrates that the creative efforts of the SOFA community is paying dividends.

“RIT and SOFA have long been at the forefront of bridging technology with the entertainment arts. It is exciting for us to be recognized by yet another industry standard publication in TheWrap’s Top 50 Film Schools,” said Jokl. “Our activities in film production, animation, motion picture sciences, game arts, and the industries associated with entertainment are robust. We strive to pair our world-class faculty and resources with our students, research interests, and the industry.”

Faculty and staff in SOFA remain dedicated to creating opportunities for hands-on creative practice both in and outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged to share their work with the community through film festivals, showcases, and other competitions, including the annual Coca-Cola Refreshing Films contest. A team of SOFA students won the contest in 2022 and, this year, another team of SOFA students was one of four semifinalists out of 900-plus submissions.

In line with the mission of creating more opportunities for students, RIT has launched the RIT LA academic and research initiative centered on the entertainment industry. The initiative, led by industry veteran Tom Connor, assistant provost and Professor of Practice, expands the university’s presence in Los Angeles.

As part of the RIT LA initiative, students with relevant skills in film, animation, games, marketing, motion picture science, design, transmedia storytelling, and more travel to Los Angeles for a semester-long immersion in the industry. Among other experiences, students benefit from internship opportunities, learning from working professionals and alumni, and behind-the-scenes experiences at studios across the city. In previous years, students have secured internships and capstones at Panavision, the Screen Actors Guild, Universal Pictures, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Disney/ABC, Netflix, and other industry-leading companies.

“Seeing RIT’s rise in these rankings and our growing presence in LA is exciting and reflects the unique impact our graduates are having on the entertainment industry. RIT students have always excelled at leveraging technology to achieve great creative outcomes,” said Connor.

Go to TheWrap’s digital magazine and see page 20 to view the full list of rankings. Go to the School of Film and Animation homepage for more information about the program.