Want to break into Nollywood? Nigeria has 15 film schools worth your time, from Del-York and PEFTI in Lagos to Mainframe in Abeokuta and Kennysoft in Port Harcourt. They cover acting, directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, animation, and post-production. Fees run from about ₦30,000 short courses up to ₦320,000 for a full diploma. This guide ranks them, tells you what each one teaches, and lists the live tuition and contact details.
Nollywood is the world’s third-largest film industry by output, behind Hollywood and Bollywood. The talent pipeline runs through schools in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ile-Ife and Abeokuta. Pick a school that matches your craft, your budget and your city, then verify current fees with the school before you pay.
Which film schools in Nigeria are worth attending?
1. Del-York Creative Academy
Linus Idahosa founded Del-York Creative Academy (DCA) in 2010. The Lagos campus sits at 8A Reeve Road, off Glover Road, Ikoyi. DCA runs intensive cohorts in partnership with international instructors and ships graduates into film, animation, marketing and media roles across Africa.
Notable alumni include filmmaker James Omoke, actress Tamara Eteimo, and hip-hop group Show Dem Camp.
Courses:
- Acting for Film (on-premise and online)
- Screenwriting for Film and TV (on-premise and online)
- Cinematography and Set Lighting
- Directing
- Film Editing and Post-Production
- Digital Content Creation and Social Media Influencing
- Public Relations and Media Communications
- 3D Animation
- Producing and the Business of Film-Making
- Fashion, Arts and Craft
- Music Video Production
- VFX
- Theatre Production
- Makeup and Special Effects
- Costume and Set Design
- Digital Marketing
- Photography
- Colour Grading
- Drone Operations
- Sound Design and Scoring for Film
- Broadcast Journalism (online)
- Documentary Filmmaking (online)
- Digital Filmmaking (online)
Visit the site HERE.
For inquiries, contact inquiry@delyorkcreative.academy
2. Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA)
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva founded LAPA in 2007 under the Lufodo Group. The school runs from Ikoyi, Lagos and trains actors, directors, scriptwriters and crew for stage and screen.
LAPA’s flagship is a full-time two-year Conservatory Programme that ends with a National Innovative Diploma in Performing and Media Arts (NBTE-accredited).
LAPA also runs short certificate courses in acting, scriptwriting, cinematography, costume design, radio presentation, stage performance and directing. The academy has a long-running content partnership with Netflix.
Alumni include Abiodun Kassim, Omoye Uzamere, Ayobami Ajike and Orji Ibe.
Email: info@lapa.edu.ng
3. Royal Arts Academy
Emem Isong founded Royal Arts Academy in July 2010 to train aspiring filmmakers in acting, directing, editing and screenwriting. The Lagos campus is at 4 Adebisi Close, off Ogunlana Drive, Surulere.
The National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) accredited the academy in July 2016, so graduates can articulate into polytechnics or universities.
Alumni who have gone on to act in Nollywood films include Lota Chukwu, Rekiya Yusuf, Belinda Effa, Emem Ufot, Etinosa Idemudia, Derby Frankson, Benjamin Lugo Touitou, Smart Edikan, Didi Ekanem and Michaeline Etim.
Courses:
- Acting
- Cinematography
- Directing
- Editing
- Screenwriting
Duration:
Three months full-time.
Fees (Lagos campus):
- Application: ₦15,000
- Tuition: ₦250,000
- Documentation: ₦35,000
- Project: ₦20,000
- Total: ₦320,000 (verify with school)
Uyo campus and international student fees: contact the academy.
Visit royalartsacademy.com.ng
Phone: +2348023527159
Email: Info@royalartsacademy.com.ng
4. PEFTI Film Institute
Wale Adenuga Productions founded PEFTI in 2004. The Lagos campus is at 5/6 Joy Avenue, off Osolo Way, Ajao Estate, Isolo.
PEFTI now runs NBTE-accredited National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Film and Television Production, Performing and Media Arts, and Fashion Design and Clothing Technology — alongside its long-standing short professional courses.
Programmes:
- Acting and Presentation
- Choreography
- Costume and Makeup
- Digital Film-making: Cinematography (camera, light, sound)
- Digital Film-making: Editing
- Digital Photography and Picture Editing
- Directing
- Music and Music Studio Production
- Producing and Production Management
- Scriptwriting (radio, stage, screen)
- Set Design
- ND/HND Film and Television Production
- ND/HND Performing and Media Arts
Contact:
5. High Definition (HD) Film Academy
HDFA opened in 2011 with high-spec training facilities in Gwarinpa, Abuja. The academy runs short and long-form courses and an active Film Hub bootcamp that meets four days every month for hands-on production.
What you get at HDFA:
- Practical, learning-by-doing curriculum
- Access to professional film equipment
- Mentorship from working Nollywood practitioners
- Flexible scheduling and on-the-job placement
- Alumni production funding
Programmes:
- Acting
- Cinematography
- Directing
- Editing
- Filmmaking
- Screenwriting
Film Hub membership: ₦30,000 per quarter or ₦100,000 per year.
Contact:
Address: Suite 6&7, 1st Floor, Wing B, MIB Plaza, opposite Oando Filling Station, Gwarinpa, FCT, Abuja.
Phone: 08161704676, 08037998414
Email: hdfilmacademy@gmail.com
Website: hdfilmacademy.com
6. MX Film & Multimedia Academy
MX Film & Multimedia Academy is the training arm of MX Creative Studios, a Lagos studio known for video production, 3D animation and aerial cinematography. The curriculum is practical and spans multimedia skills relevant to TV, film and advertising.
Phone: +234 808 837 2145, +234 813 466 0029
Email: admin@academy.mxnigeria.com
Website: www.mxnigeria.com
7. Purpose Academy of Film and Photography
Purpose Academy trains aspiring actors, presenters, photographers, cinematographers, producers and animators. The school is at 70 Adisa Ajibulu Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.
Phone: 0813 373 5507
8. Magnus Film Academy (MFA)
Magnus Film Academy is the leading film school in South-East Nigeria, based in Enugu. The two-month programmes mix classroom training with location shoots, and tuition runs ₦30,000–₦70,000 per course (verify with school).
Courses:
- 2D/3D Animation and Special Effects
- Acting
- Cinematography (photo, video, lighting)
- Computer Training and Graphics Design
- Directing and Filmmaking
- Drone Piloting
- Live Event Streaming
- Photography
- Scriptwriting
- Video Editing and Videography
Contact:
Phone: +234 803 268 4423 (WhatsApp), +234 806 409 6689, +234 803 307 6305
Email: magnusproductionsng@gmail.com
X: @MagnusFilmsNg | Instagram: @magnusmedia
Address: No. 26, 1st Avenue off Damijah Road, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State.
MFA is endorsed by the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.
9. Disciples Film and Television Institute (DIFTI)
DIFTI runs practical training with a low tutor-to-student ratio and a mentorship pipeline that continues after graduation. The curriculum covers acting, directing, cinematography and post-production.
Phone: +234 803 525 8156, +234 802 830 6534
Email: diftiacademy@gmail.com
10. Sword of Excellence Drama-Film University
Sword of Excellence trains drama and film ministers for Christian production, mixing scripture-based ethics with hands-on craft.
Courses:
- Acting
- Auditioning and Casting
- Basics of Digital Editing
- Basics of Drama and Film Production
- Communication Skills
- Continuity
- Costume and Props
- Digital Cinematography and Lighting
- Directing
- Administrative Strategy in Drama/Film
- Make-up
- Music and Sound
- Practical Video Presentation
- Producing
- Production Design and Stage Management
- Scriptwriting
- Stage and Film Technicalities
11. Mainframe Film and Media Institute (MFMI)
Veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani founded MFMI in 2016 (on his 68th birthday) at Abeokuta, Ogun State. The institute runs Film School Basic (FSB) and short workshops in cinematography, directing, editing and scriptwriting.
The school’s mission: promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage on screen, raise local production standards, and offer technical support to producers across Africa.
Contact:
Production office: 16 Sehinde Callisto Crescent, Charity Bus Stop, Oshodi, Lagos.
Email: info@mainframemovies.tv
Website: mainframeinstitute.com
12. KingsCrew Film Academy
KingsCrew trains young creatives for production roles inside the African entertainment industry, with project-based work in both groups and individual portfolios.
Courses:
- Filmmaking
- 3D Animation
- Graphic Design
- Cinematography
- Acting and Casting
- Photography
Contact:
- Address: 7 Oyinlola Street, Akowonjo, Lagos.
- Email: academy@kingscrewmedia.com
13. Ai Multimedia Academy
Ai Multimedia covers the wider digital craft stack — graphic design, animation, cinematography, CAD, video and audio editing, motion graphics, VFX, photography, video production, web and mobile development, and digital literacy. Each course leads to a specific career path with skill certification.
Courses:
- Graphic Design and Publishing
- 3D Animation
- Cinematography
- Video and Audio Editing
- Digital Marketing
- Motion Graphics and Visual Effects
- Web Design, Web Development and Programming
- Digital Publishing and Interactive Multimedia Design
- Digital Literacy and Office Applications
- Architectural and Interior Design
- Video Production and Live Streaming
Contact:
- Address: 10 Ijaiye Road, beside Thermocool Showroom, Ogba, Lagos.
- Email: info@aitrainings.com
14. The Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama
Evangelist Mike Bamiloye founded the Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama (MZICD) in 1991 to train drama ministers for Christian film and stage. The school has trained over 4,000 students from Nigeria, the UK, the US, Canada and beyond.
In August 2020 MZICD became affiliated with Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo, which lets it offer Diploma and Bachelor of Arts qualifications in Performing Arts (Christian Drama).
Campus: Habitation of Faith (the Mount Zion Training and Retreat Centre), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
15. Kennysoft Film Academy
Kennysoft Film Academy is a leading film and digital art institution in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The academy issues certificates, diplomas and workshop programmes. Course durations run from three weeks to twelve months, and no prior experience is required.
Address: No. 1 UST Maingate, along Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.
Diploma programmes:
- Diploma in Digital Photography
- Diploma in Digital Art
- Diploma in Digital Filmmaking
Certificate programmes:
- 2D Animation
- 3D Animation
- Photo Editing and Manipulation
- Visual Effects
- Video Editing
- Motion Graphics
- Cinematography
Contact:
- Email: academy@kennysoftstudio.com
- Website: academy.kennysoftstudio.com
- Phone: 08163876675
Why go to film school in Nigeria?
1. You collaborate from day one
Film schools place you next to writers, actors, editors, sound designers and directors at the same career stage. You build a working crew while you learn. Most schools also run online cohorts for students who need flexibility.
2. You practise under a mentor
Industry instructors watch your work and call out the mistakes that would cost you a job on set. You fix them in school, not on someone’s payroll.
3. You learn the craft in order
A structured curriculum walks you through cinematography, editing, directing or VFX foundations before you specialise. That order matters — skipping it on YouTube tends to leave gaps that show on screen.
4. You build a network
You meet people who will hire you or be hired alongside you. Nigerian film school alumni networks already place graduates into Nollywood and pan-African productions.
5. You get equipment access
Cameras, lighting kits, edit suites and sound stages cost millions to assemble alone. School tuition includes that access plus, at some schools, scholarship and grant pathways.
How much does film school in Nigeria cost?
Tuition varies. Short courses at Magnus Film Academy run ₦30,000–₦70,000. A three-month diploma at Royal Arts Academy is around ₦320,000 in Lagos. NBTE-accredited ND/HND programmes at PEFTI and LAPA are priced like polytechnic programmes — confirm fees direct with the school. International applicants pay in USD at most schools. Budget separately for accommodation, food and personal kit.
How do I choose the right film school?
Match the school to the craft you want, not the city you live in. If you want NBTE accreditation, shortlist PEFTI, LAPA and Royal Arts Academy. If you want Hollywood-style cohort training, look at Del-York. If you want Christian-market production, look at Mount Zion or Sword of Excellence. If you want animation and digital art, Kennysoft and Ai Multimedia lead. Visit the campus, ask current students about equipment access, and verify tuition in writing before you pay.
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