For the fourth consecutive year, Antioch University’s MFA in Creative Writing has been recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the best film schools in the U.S. and Canada, continuing national recognition for the program’s Writing for the Screen concentration.
Antioch University Los Angeles is included on MovieMaker’s newly released list of the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada, 2026,” alongside some of the most established names in film education. This year, the magazine highlights Antioch’s individualized mentorship, low-residency model, access to accomplished working writers, and commitment to community engagement and social justice.
The streak began in 2023, when Antioch was named to MovieMaker’s “25 Best Film Schools” list and was one of just three programs, alongside Emerson College and UCLA, singled out for “Outstanding Screenwriting Training.” At the time, MovieMaker pointed to the MFA’s faculty and guest speakers, emphasis on social justice, and innovative field study requirement as qualities that distinguished the program.
In 2025, the magazine described Antioch as having “established itself as one of the best rising opportunities for screenwriters,” highlighting its affordability, flexibility, mentorship model, and opportunities to learn from accomplished storytellers.
That emphasis on close mentorship remains central to the 2026 recognition. MovieMaker notes the program’s strong focus on one-on-one work with established screenwriters, television writers, and playwrights. Recent residency participants have included Winnie Holzman, writer of Wicked, and Jennifer Lee, writer and director of Frozen.
MovieMaker also points to Antioch’s Living Writers program, which gives students the chance to learn from writers working in television and other fields. Recent guests have included writers from The Pitt and Shrinking. MFA alums can also return for future residencies and take part in the program after graduation.
Antioch’s two-year, low-residency MFA allows students to spend five-month project periods working from wherever they live, paired with intensive 10-day residencies in June and December. MovieMaker also notes that many students make films for their final projects.
That work was on display during the MFA’s June 2026 residency, when the program held its first-ever Social Justice Film Festival. The festival showcased six films created by Antioch MFA alums, spanning genres including horror, romantic comedy, animation, and drama. Each film explored social justice themes.
“I am incredibly proud of our dramatic writing students and the films and plays they are creating through a social justice lens,” said Colette Freedman, MFA faculty member.
Across its four years on the list, MovieMaker has consistently recognized qualities central to Antioch’s approach to screenwriting education: close mentorship, rigorous attention to craft, flexibility, community engagement, and a commitment to writing that engages with the world beyond the page.
Read MovieMaker Magazine’s full 2026 list of the “30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada.”
