UWM students put cinematography techniques into practice using professional filmmaking equipment during a Lighting Lab at Kenilworth Square East. (UWM Photo/ Troye Fox)
MovieMaker Magazine has named the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee one of the best film schools in the U.S. and Canada for 2026.
The annual 30 Best Film Schools list highlights programs that offer students strong preparation for a changing industry while helping emerging filmmakers develop their craft and creative perspectives. UWM was recognized this year and appears alongside programs including UCLA, New York University, CalArts and Columbia University.
MovieMaker highlighted UWM’s combination of practical filmmaking experience and an emphasis on creative thinking and experimentation. The magazine noted that senior project courses guide students through the full process of creating a short film, from initial concept through post-production, while encouraging students to develop their own artistic voices.
Jesse McLean, chair of the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres, said that the department’s faculty are active and acclaimed filmmakers dedicated to helping students establish roots in both the art world and the film industry.
“It’s meaningful to see MovieMaker recognize an approach that has long been central to our program,” McLean said. “Film is an art form and a collaborative practice, and our students benefit from the space and rewant to say through their work, whether they go on to work independently or commercially.”
The magazine also pointed to UWM’s growing strength in animation, highlighting faculty member Owen Klatte, whose credits include “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Anomalisa.” It also cited the department’s relationship with Milwaukee Film, which offers students and alumni employment in areas including technical projection, theater management, programming and curation, public relations and social media.
UWM’s connection to Milwaukee’s filmmaking community extends beyond the festival. MovieMaker noted that local production companies also draw from the university’s pool of emerging talent.
The recognition comes at a significant moment for Wisconsin’s film and television industry. Wisconsin’s 2025-27 state budget established a State Film Office within the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and authorized up to $5 million in film production and investment tax credits intended to create new infrastructure and attract productions to Wisconsin, according to nonprofit Imagine MKE.
UWM has awarded over 500 undergraduate and graduate degrees in film and animation in the last five years.
