Our mission
College and a career. Not one or the other.
The Academy for Careers in Television and Film prepares every student for college and for a career in film, television and beyond. Students learn production the way the industry works: on real sets, alongside industry professionals, and through internships and college courses that can continue through an associate degree. Staff and industry partners work closely with every student, so each graduate leaves with a plan for what comes next and the skills, experience and support to carry it out.
TvF opened in 2008, founded by the New York Production Alliance and New Visions for Public Schools to connect New York City students with careers in film and television.
Graduate profile
Who our graduates become.
Four qualities TvF builds in every student over four years, in class, in advisory and on set.
Career Ready
- I am
- Accountable
- Resourceful
- Organized
On time, prepared and professional: meeting deadlines, handling production equipment with care, and speaking and acting like a working member of a crew.
Where students practice it
- Crew roles on classmates’ shoots, starting in 9th grade.
- Extended production days on set until 5 PM in 11th grade.
- Summer internships with partners like Silvercup Studios and Panavision: 126 students in 2024-25.
It counts: meeting these expectations is required for internships, trips, AP and BMCC classes, Senior Honors Production and PSAL teams.
Community Minded
- I am
- Collaborative
- Thoughtful
- Committed to community
Treating every person with courtesy and respect, working through disagreements, and making sure everyone feels valued, safe, seen and heard.
Where students practice it
- Productions crewed by students from all seven departments.
- Advisory Circles, led by advisors trained in restorative practices.
- Senior Peer Group Connection leaders who help every 9th grader settle in.
Critical Thinker
- I am
- Curious
- Reflective
- A problem solver
Asking questions, listening, weighing what they hear, and reflecting on the impact they have on the world around them.
Where students practice it
- Directing five or more of their own projects a year in 9th and 10th grade.
- Breaking down scenes from real films to recreate them in the Suspense and Comedy Projects.
- AP classes and college courses through BMCC Early College Scholars.
Empowered
- I am
- An advocate
- Persistent
- An effective communicator
Confident enough to speak up for themselves, keep going when things get hard, and communicate clearly with peers and adults.
Where students practice it
- Student-Led Conferences, where students present their own progress to their families.
- Monthly one-on-one check-ins with an advisor who has known them since Summer Bridge.
- Free after-school tutoring when coursework gets hard.
Film and TV production
Where it all comes together.
On major student-led productions, students use all four at once: they plan and meet deadlines, collaborate on crews, solve problems on set, and speak up for their ideas. That is how TvF prepares them for college, career and beyond.
- Career Ready
- Community Minded
- Critical Thinker
- Empowered
Community agreements
How we get there.
The graduate profile is where students end up. The community agreements are the daily habits that get them there, and every TvF student commits to them.
- Builds: Career Ready
Accountable
- I am present and actively engaged in class.
- I carry a pass whenever I am out of class.
- My phone and smartwatch stay locked in my Yondr pouch from 8:30 to 3:30.That includes tutoring, clubs and production extended days.
- Builds: Community Minded
Committed to the Community
- I use respectful language that honors every person’s identity.TvF is an inclusive campus, and we celebrate our diversity.
- I respect school property and help keep TvF a safe place to learn.TvF is a smoke-free and drug-free campus.
- I represent TvF well, in school and in the local community.
- I am an upstander for my peers.
- Builds: Empowered
Empowered
- I advocate for myself and ask staff for support when I have a conflict with a peer or teacher.
- I keep working when coursework gets hard, and I ask for help when I need it.
- I build my confidence by trying new opportunities and learning from my mistakes.
TvF is a phone-free campus. Phones and smartwatches are locked in Yondr pouches during the school day. The Student Handbook has the full phone and device policy, along with every school expectation in detail.
See it for yourself.
Come to an open house, meet our students and teachers, and walk through the soundstages.