Australian Film, Television and Radio School

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.

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

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

• Screen arts education
• Film school programs
• Broadcast training courses
• Radio podcasting education
• Screen production degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Venue and Facilities Hire: Revenue from discounted hire of AFTRS venues (cinema, lobby, classrooms) for alumni and industry, and industry use of production facilities.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• SonyminorOthers · 1 January 2023Corporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
• Sydney Philharmonia ChoirscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Collaboration on Precipice binaural narrative podcast project. VOX choir recorded at AFTRS for use as Precipice leitmotif.
• RMITcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with RMIT in Victoria, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
• Edith Cowan UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
• Griffith Film SchoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with Griffith Film School in Queensland, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
• The MercurycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with The Mercury in South Australia, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
• Apple Box StudiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with Apple Box Studio in Tasmania, extending AFTRS training to students in the state.
• ScreenworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShort course delivery partnership with Screenworks for regional students, extending AFTRS training to regional Australia.
• NIDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration 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 AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor 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 StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFTRS 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 UniversalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFTRS provides access to diverse talent for NBC Universal productions under Location Offset arrangements.
• ABCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for AFTRS graduates and broadcast partner for student work exhibition through ABC iView.
• BBC StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
• NetflixflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for graduates through Animal Logic partnership and content distribution partner for student works.
• SBSflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast partner and placement host. Collaborates on exhibition opportunities for student works through SBS On Demand.
• Seven NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
• See-Saw FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
• Paramount+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement host for AFTRS graduates.
• Screen AustraliaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 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 ArtsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates 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 NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to design customised programs combining formal training, mentorship, placements and industry community engagement.
• Bus Stop FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to design customised programs supporting inclusive film education.
• ARNminorOthersRadio placement host and scholarship donor supporting AFTRS students from diverse backgrounds.
• Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA)minorOthersRadio placement host and scholarship donor supporting AFTRS students from diverse backgrounds.
• The HOYTS GroupminorOthersCorporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
• EON BroadcastingminorOthersCorporate sponsor providing scholarships for students from under-represented groups.
• Start VRcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership 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.
• WNYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York public broadcasting partnership for Precipice binaural narrative podcast research and development.
• BBC Audio Research DivisioncoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Precipice binaural narrative podcast research, exploring new entertainment market within fast-growing podcast industry.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AFTRSShowcase
• Facebookfacebook.com/aftrs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-film-television-and-radio-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/aftrs
• Xx.com/aftrs

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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