Australian Film, Television and Radio School
AFTRS is Australia's national statutory screen and broadcast school, delivering bachelor, masters, and graduate diploma award courses, short courses, and corporate training in film, television, radio, and podcasting to ~150 award-course and 2,000+ short-course students annually from its Sydney campus, with national delivery via university partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Australian Film, Television and Radio School does
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) is Australia's national screen and broadcast school, established by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973 as a Commonwealth statutory authority under the Minister for the Arts. Headquartered at Moore Park in Sydney with all specialist craft facilities housed under one roof (two film/TV studios, radio studios, editing suites, a 5.1 mixing theatre, a 120-seat cinema, and the 44,000-item Jerzy Toeplitz Library), it operates as a fully self-accrediting higher education provider (TEQSA PRV12011, CRICOS 03662D) consistently ranked in the top 15 international film schools by The Hollywood Reporter.
AFTRS delivers four award courses (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Master of Arts Screen, Master of Arts Screen: Business, and Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting) across 14 disciplines, plus short courses, AFTRS for Business corporate training, and research-and-innovation projects including a Biometrics Lab, the Precipice binaural narrative podcast developed with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, WNYC, and BBC Audio Research, and the VR Noir experience. The school graduates 150-170 award-course students and trains 2,000+ short-course students annually, with student films accumulating 5,000+ festival selections at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Sundance.
Revenue is a hybrid mix of Commonwealth government appropriations, tuition fees (A$37,200/year domestic and A$64,944/year international for the Master of Arts Screen: Business), corporate sponsorship and donations via the 2023 Alumni & Industry Scholarship Fund (Sony, HOYTS Group, ARN, CRA, EON Broadcasting), venue and facilities hire, and customised corporate training delivered through AFTRS for Business. AFTRS is not investor-backed and is not commercially investable; it is a public-sector cultural agency whose expansion is paced by policy cycles rather than capital deployment.
Australian Film, Television and Radio School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Australian Film, Television and Radio School
- Legal name
- Australian Film, Television and Radio School
- Website
- https://aftrs.edu.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AFTRS is Australia's national statutory screen and broadcast school, delivering bachelor, masters, and graduate diploma award courses, short courses, and corporate training in film, television, radio, and podcasting to ~150 award-course and 2,000+ short-course students annually from its Sydney campus, with national delivery via university partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Australian Film, Television and Radio School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Film, Television and Radio Arts
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions) (MPAGAOAJ), Virtual Recruitment Events, Fairs & Webinar Platforms (EDAIACAF)
Keywords
Where Australian Film, Television and Radio School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Australian Film, Television and Radio School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: Revenue from domestic and international student tuition for award courses (Bachelor, Masters, Graduate Diploma) and short courses. Domestic fees for Master of Arts Screen: Business are $37,200 per year; international fees are $64,944 per year.
- Commonwealth Government Funding: AFTRS is a Commonwealth statutory authority receiving annual appropriation through the Budget as a cultural agency under the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
- Donations and Scholarships: Revenue from alumni and industry donations to the Alumni & Industry Scholarship Fund, corporate sponsorships, and named scholarships. Supported by organizations including Sony, ARN, HOYTS Group, EON Broadcasting, and CRA.
- Venue and Facilities Hire: Revenue from discounted hire of AFTRS venues (cinema, lobby, classrooms) for alumni and industry, and industry use of production facilities.
- Customised Training Services: AFTRS For Business provides customised training programs for industry partners, including Screen Business Essentials with SPA and On Set Onboarding training for productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Master of Arts Screen: Business domestic fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Master of Arts Screen: Business international fee |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Short Courses |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFTRS is a national screen arts and broadcast school that delivers higher-education award courses (Bachelor, Masters, Graduate Diploma) and short courses in film, television, radio, podcasting, screen business, and related crafts. It combines on-campus practical training at the Moore Park Sydney campus with nationwide online and partner-delivered short courses, AFTRS for Business customised corporate training, and research-led innovation in biometrics, binaural audio, and virtual reality.
Product overview
AFTRS is a national screen and broadcast school offering a portfolio of award courses, short courses, and industry training programs. The core award courses include the Master of Arts Screen (suspended for 2027 redesign), Master of Arts Screen: Business, Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, and Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting. Supporting these are short courses delivered nationwide via partnerships with universities, AFTRS for Business corporate training, and initiatives including Media Lab and Bus Stop Films Program. The school also conducts research and innovation projects producing podcasts (Talks @ AFTRS, Lumina, Precipice) and exploring emerging technologies including biometrics and VR experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production Undergraduate degree that trains multi-skilled, adaptable content creators and crew members for entry-level positions in the screen industry, combining theory and practice, with embedded industry placements.
- Master of Arts Screen Postgraduate degree offered in nine disciplines including Sound Design, Production Design, Editing, Producing, Music, Cinematography, Documentary, Screenwriting, and Directing. The 2027 intake is suspended for redesign, expected to reopen mid-2027 for 2028 intake.
- Master of Arts Screen: Business Australia's foremost screen business postgraduate course designed for mid-career professionals, covering entrepreneurial leadership, financial management, strategic innovation, and content development. Offered full-time or part-time, on-campus or online.
- Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Quantifiable outcome
- 5000+ awards and selections at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Sundance
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- SonyminorCorporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
- Sydney Philharmonia ChoirscoreCollaboration on Precipice binaural narrative podcast project. VOX choir recorded at AFTRS for use as Precipice leitmotif.
- RMITcoreShort course delivery partnership with RMIT in Victoria, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
- Edith Cowan UniversitycoreShort course delivery partnership with Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
- Griffith Film SchoolcoreShort course delivery partnership with Griffith Film School in Queensland, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
- The MercurycoreShort course delivery partnership with The Mercury in South Australia, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
- Apple Box StudiocoreShort course delivery partnership with Apple Box Studio in Tasmania, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
- ScreenworkscoreShort course delivery partnership with Screenworks for regional students, extending AFTRS training to regional Australia.
- NIDAcoreCollaboration with National Institute of Dramatic Art to design customised programs combining formal training, mentorship, placements and industry community engagement. Focus on forging clearer talent pathways through education into screen careers.
- The Walt Disney Company AustraliaflagshipMajor placement partner providing opportunities in production office, assistant directing, costume, location, post and camera departments. AFTRS assists Disney in fulfilling national training requirements for Location Offset beneficiaries. Customisable On Set Onboarding training provided.
- Marvel StudioscoreAFTRS provides access to diverse students, graduates and alumni trained to work in most positions above and below the line for Marvel productions under Location Offset arrangements.
- NBC UniversalcoreAFTRS provides access to diverse talent for NBC Universal productions under Location Offset arrangements.
- ABCflagshipPlacement host for AFTRS graduates and broadcast partner for student work exhibition through ABC iView.
- BBC StudioscorePlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
- NetflixflagshipPlacement host for graduates through Animal Logic partnership and content distribution partner for student works.
- SBSflagshipBroadcast partner and placement host. Collaborates on exhibition opportunities for student works through SBS On Demand.
- Seven NetworkcorePlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
- See-Saw FilmscorePlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
- Paramount+corePlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
- Screen AustraliaflagshipIn continual dialogue with Screen Australia and State/Territory screen agencies for intelligence on skilling needs. Provides subsidised access to short courses alongside mentorship and placements.
- Office for the ArtsflagshipParticipates in monthly discussions convened by Office for the Arts along with ACTF, NIDA, Ausfilm and Screen Australia. Commits to collaborative work to promote excellence in national screen storytelling and grow a skilled workforce.
- TAFE NSWcoreCollaboration to design customised programs combining formal training, mentorship, placements and industry community engagement.
- Bus Stop FilmscoreCollaboration to design customised programs supporting inclusive film education.
- ARNminorRadio placement host and scholarship donor supporting AFTRS students from diverse backgrounds.
- Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA)minorRadio placement host and scholarship donor supporting AFTRS students from diverse backgrounds.
- The HOYTS GroupminorCorporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
- EON BroadcastingminorCorporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
- Start VRcorePartnership with Sydney-based start-up production house to create VR Noir: A Day Before the Night, ground-breaking interactive VR experience nominated for Proto Award.
- WNYCcoreNew York public broadcasting partnership for Precipice binaural narrative podcast research and development.
- BBC Audio Research DivisioncorePartnership for Precipice binaural narrative podcast research, exploring new entertainment market within fast-growing podcast industry.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- London Film School: Independent UK postgraduate film school offering MA Filmmaking and related specialisations with international cohorts. Comparable to AFTRS as a postgraduate-specialist school serving global students.
- FAMU — Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts: Prague-based national film school with deep craft specialisations and Oscar-winning alumni. FAMU is one of the oldest film schools globally and a benchmark public-sector film school comparable to AFTRS in curriculum and international standing.
- National Film and Television School (NFTS): The UK's national, government-funded film school delivering postgraduate diplomas across directing, cinematography, editing, producing and screenwriting. NFTS is the closest international analogue to AFTRS in mandate, funding model (Creative Skillset-supported) and craft coverage.
- American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory: The US's premier postgraduate film conservatory, supported by industry and federal/industry partnerships. AFI's MFA program, MFA-only intake and Fellowship-driven placement model directly mirror AFTRS's specialist postgraduate structure.
- La Fémis: France's national film school (formerly IDHEC), publicly funded and focused on craft disciplines across cinema, sound and production. Comparable to AFTRS as a state-backed specialist film school producing globally awarded alumni.
- National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA): Australia's national performing-arts school, delivering award courses in acting, design and production. AFTRS lists NIDA as a partner for customised programs, and NIDA is the closest Australian institutional peer with overlapping screen-talent pathways.
Emerging players
- SAE Institute: Global private provider of creative-media vocational degrees and short courses, with a strong Australian footprint. Competes with AFTRS for the same aspiring screen professionals but at faster, lower-cost and more vocationally oriented delivery.
Broad incumbents
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts: Major US film school offering graduate and undergraduate film programs with strong industry placement in New York. Comparable to AFTRS in producing top festival alumni but operates as part of a broader private university with deeper resources.
- USC School of Cinematic Arts: One of the largest, best-resourced US film schools offering BA, MFA and PhD across all film/broadcast disciplines within a major research university. Comparable to AFTRS in disciplinary breadth but operates at substantially greater scale and endowment.
Regional players
- Griffith Film School: Queensland-based university film school delivering undergraduate and postgraduate screen programs. AFTRS counts Griffith among its short-course delivery partners, and Griffith competes with AFTRS for Queensland-based students and staff.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Australian Film, Television and Radio School social profiles
Digital presenceAustralian Film, Television and Radio School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Australian Film, Television and Radio School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Australian Film, Television and Radio School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Australian Film, Television and Radio School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Australian Film, Television and Radio School
What does Australian Film, Television and Radio School do?
AFTRS is a national screen arts and broadcast school that delivers higher-education award courses (Bachelor, Masters, Graduate Diploma) and short courses in film, television, radio, podcasting, screen business, and related crafts. It combines on-campus practical training at the Moore Park Sydney campus with nationwide online and partner-delivered short courses, AFTRS for Business customised corporate training, and research-led innovation in biometrics, binaural audio, and virtual reality.
Is Australian Film, Television and Radio School a public or private company?
Australian Film, Television and Radio School is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Australian Film, Television and Radio School founded?
Australian Film, Television and Radio School was founded in 1973. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Australian Film, Television and Radio School based?
Australian Film, Television and Radio School is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Australian Film, Television and Radio School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are commonwealth Government Funding, donations and Scholarships, venue and Facilities Hire and customised Training Services.
Who are Australian Film, Television and Radio School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are London Film School, FAMU — Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts, National Film and Television School (NFTS), American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, La Fémis and National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). SAE Institute is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are NYU Tisch School of the Arts and USC School of Cinematic Arts. Griffith Film School is listed as a regional player.
Does Australian Film, Television and Radio School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
What industry is Australian Film, Television and Radio School in?
Australian Film, Television and Radio School's product category is Higher Education - Film, Television and Radio Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAIAC, Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts), with a secondary code of MPAGAOAJ, Virtual Training, Workshops & Masterclasses (Interactive Sessions). Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8200.