EXCITING NEWS!!!!
Sydney Actors School and Sydney Film School Go National with Australian College of the
Arts’ Acquisition of International Screen Academy
At a time when tertiary creative courses are being cut and less students are enrolling in the courses that are left, Melbourne-based Australian College of the Arts, Collarts, announced today the acquisition of the Sydney Actors School and the Sydney Film School, making the beloved Sydney arts institutions part of a national college devoted to the creative arts.
The Australian College of the Arts, known as Collarts, Australia’s leading creative higher education institution, has today announced the acquisition of International Screen Academy, the parent organisation of the Sydney Actors School and Sydney Film School, based at Waterloo Studios. The
acquisition is effective immediately.
The acquisition brings together complementary strengths across creative education. Collarts is nationally recognised for its contemporary, industry- led programs across music, design, digital media, film, theatre, fashion, photography and entertainment management disciplines, while both Sydney Schools have built a strong reputation for excellence in screen, film, and performance education through its two flagship brands.
Recent research published in the Australian Journal of Education revealed that fewer students in high school and university are choosing to study the creative arts, and dozens of tertiary courses have been slashed.
According to Collarts’ CEO, Sam Jacob, Collarts is bucking this trend “because we recognise the long-term strengths of the creative economy and we are expanding in response to strong demand in the creative and digital industries,” they said.
“Collarts has had 130% growth in enrolment between 2018 and 2023, compared to two-thirds of universities that have declined over the past five years. The acquisition marks a significant milestone for Collarts’ expansion into Sydney’s screen and performance student markets, with design, fashion and music disciplines to follow in the months. Last year we launched Collarts Online, and this year we launched postgraduate courses and head to NSW, strengthening our position as a national leader in creative education.”
Joe Ware, CEO of International Screen Academy, said the acquisition positions the organisation for its next phase of growth.
“Joining Collarts creates exciting opportunities for our students and staff. We share a strong belief in industry-led education and creative excellence. Being part of the Collarts group allows us to build on the reputation of Sydney Actors School and Sydney Film School and open new pathways for our students and industry partners through collaboration, growth, and innovation.”
The acquisition will see Collarts expand its Sydney campus offering to include a broader range of creative disciplines. In addition to Acting and Film, programs delivered from Waterloo Studios will include Digital and Social Media, Graphic and Digital Design, Animation, Music Production, Fashion and Interior Design, providing students with industry-facing training across a wide range of creative practices.
Reuben Virdi, a current student at Sydney Actors School, said: “The merge with Collarts opens up the opportunity for me to rediscover my passion with other forms of performing arts, enhance my qualification for acting to work my way towards further study and watch a school that I have found so much joy in expand and grow stronger.”
Sydney Film School is widely regarded for its rigorous, production-focused approach and deep industry connections within film and screen, while Sydney Actors School is recognised for producing highly skilled performers with strong professional outcomes across screen, stage, and emerging media.
As a leading independent tertiary provider in the creative industries, Collarts delivers industry-aligned degrees designed to prepare students for sustainable, real-world careers. Its courses span film, animation, performance, music, fashion, design, communications and arts and culture management, combining practical project-based learning with direct engagement from experienced industry practitioners.
Collarts and International Screen Academy will work closely over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition, with a clear focus on continuity and quality for students, staff, and industry partners.
All media enquiries please contact:
Tania Ewing
Collarts – The Australian College of Arts
[email protected]
Tel: +61 408378422
WELCOME TO SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL &
COLLARTS – THE AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
Sydney Film School, now part of Collarts’ expanding creative arts footprint in Sydney, has a clear vision: to provide the most personalised, hands-on, practical training in the world. We are a creative hub for filmmakers, bringing together expert teaching, state-of-the-art production facilities, and a philosophy that prioritises individual growth.
Through the acquisition by Collarts, one of Australia’s leading creative higher education institutions, Sydney Film School retains its distinctive identity, teaching approach, and industry credibility while benefiting from Collarts’ national presence and extensive creative networks. Collarts empowers a new generation of creatives to build meaningful, sustainable careers across music, performing arts, film and screen, design, fashion, and entertainment management. Our courses, delivered on campus and online, connect a vibrant community of more than 2,000 students from over 30 countries and 50 high schools.
At Sydney Film School, we have assembled the best teachers – industry professionals who have launched careers in Australia, Hollywood, and beyond – to guide our students. We combine this expertise with purpose-built film, sound, and production studios equipped with cutting-edge technology, providing authentic environments to learn filmmaking. Here, students are not just numbers; they are individual screen practitioners.
We encourage students to push boundaries and take creative risks, fostering courage, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence. This selective approach ensures an engaging, high-standard learning experience where students become expert storytellers, masters of their craft, and future leaders in the industry.
Collarts’ broader industry-led approach complements this vision, connecting students with active practitioners, real-world experience, and professional pathways. Nationally recognised for teaching quality and graduate satisfaction, Collarts places students at the centre, offering mentors, collaborators, and industry connections to support creativity and ambition.
At Sydney Film School and Collarts, follow your passion. Tell your story. You are welcome here.
SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL AND VARIETY MAGAZINE
HOLLYWOOD BASED VARIETY MAGAZINE HAS AWARDED SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL ITS TOP FILM SCHOOLS FOR 2020 ACCOLADE. CHOSEN FROM FILM TRAINING INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE, SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL WAS HONOURED TO RECEIVE THIS NEWS.
THE ONLY AUSTRALIAN FILM SCHOOL TO BE AWARDED.
HISTORY
Sydney Film School was founded to teach the essential filmmaking ‘tools’ necessary for a successful career in the global film industry. It is an intense training experience where our students learn the skills required to become filmmakers. By producing and crewing a significant number of films, students acquire the skills needed to be employed by the industry and create their own productions. Since Sydney Film School’s inception, alumni have gone on to successful careers worldwide and have developed a network for new students to build relationships with.
PRODUCTION STUDIOS BUILT FOR THE FILM & TV INDUSTRY
Sydney Film School is located at the Collarts – Waterloo Campus, also known as Waterloo Studios. Waterloo Studios houses state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, including a sound stage, cinema, movement studio, training rooms, production offices, and editing suites. Our facility is installed with the latest fibre optic cable for high-speed internet and narrowcasting.
Waterloo Studios is an award-winning Production Studio, winner of the Tertiary Category, 2014 Master Builders Association Excellence in Construction Award.
WATERLOO STUDIOS VIRTUAL TOUR
TEACHERS
Our teachers are experts at delivering instruction and are working professionals. They understand what it’s like to start out and know how to guide you towards a career in the film and television industry. At the heart of our teaching philosophy is our desire for students to find their unique vision. We want you to show an audience how you see the world. At the same time, we prepare you with the craft skills essential to engage in opportunities in film and television production.
A REAL STUDIO ENVIRONMENT
Filmmaking is a symbiotic relationship between the visionary and the team, creating a shared vision. In many institutions, access to actors is limited or unavailable. Sydney Film School shares the Waterloo Studios facility with Sydney Actors School, one of the country’s leading acting programs. Sydney Film School students build working relationships with acting students, with the intention of creating exceptional film and television programs. This collaborative environment enables all students to understand the critical relationship between filmmakers and actors, creating an excellent environment for building lasting friendships and future professional collaborations.
ROLL CAMERA
We are seeking students with unbridled passion who want to make a profound impact in the international film & TV industry. We can teach the art and craft of filmmaking, but we can’t teach passion. That’s what we’re looking for. An applicant with a big dream, full of enthusiasm, who wants to make their mark as a professional in the international film and TV industry, and who is not afraid to strive for excellence.
We are very selective across all disciplines. Entry into our accredited programs is through a rigorous Pitch Presentation process. Our goal is not to fill seats with students and promise the world – we are serious about assisting students to launch their filmmaking careers. This is why we have very limited enrolments and a thorough interview process to gain enrolment into our courses.
For students who are successful in gaining enrolment into Sydney Film School, this means the opportunity to work with fellow students who are just as committed to reaching their dreams.
FUTURE
We are always looking for better ways to deliver programs, exploring how the industry is changing, and how we can equip our students to meet those changes. Most of all, we encourage you to create a future in the film and television industry that is exciting and thriving. We seek a special kind of student who dreams big and wants to learn how to achieve their filmmaking dream. Because we are a boutique institution with limited enrollment, we can be flexible in meeting the rapidly changing industry. Our goal is to produce high-calibre filmmakers who have a vision of their future. We believe in dreaming big and know that dedication, encouragement and industry-relevant training are the key. We want to work with students who wish to discover their vision and project it to the world with courage.
FIND YOUR VISION
If you would like to visit the Sydney Film School at Waterloo Studios, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a personal tour. We can sit down and explore your study options. You can even sit in on a filmmaking class. We want to answer all your questions so that you can make an informed decision about whether our school is right for you.
WHY CHOOSE SYDNEY FILM SCHOOL?
- Sydney Film School employs industry professionals with real credits to their name. Many institutions will offer “industry professionals” as lecturers; however, they have not worked at significant levels in the international film and TV industry. Our lecturers have had a major impact in their chosen fields. This is why many lecturers are also the chairs or presidents of their industry guilds.
- Our curriculum enables you to practice filmmaking under real-world conditions. You will learn the theory for excellent practice and then make movies. Lots of them. We believe this is the best way to learn.
- You study with filmmakers and actors all under the one roof. We hope that you will build professional working relationships that will last a lifetime.
- Our facilities are built for filmmakers, not educators. When you study filmmaking at Sydney Film School, you study in a purpose-built facility that is industry standard. We work with many professional production companies who rate our facilities as best in class.
- You are not just a number. At Sydney Film School you experience a personal training culture. Our classes are small, our selection process rigorous and our lecturers inspiring. We want you to succeed and most of all, find your own voice.
- Culture is just as important as outcome. We want our students to enjoy the process of learning. Challenges are part of this process, and we’ve found the best way for any student to grow as artists is to support them. At Sydney Film School you’ll find a culture of support and inspiration, where all artists are encouraged to find their unique vision.
.
.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
We pay our respects to the custodians and knowledge keepers of the lands we live, learn and work on. In Sydney, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and in Naarm, Melbourne, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin nation.
We honour this continent’s first creatives, musicians, artists and designers – 75,000 years of unbroken storytelling – and the continuity of Indigenous cultural brilliance in which our work finds an anchor.
We stand as active allies in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart: voice, treaty and truth. This land was never ceded. It always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
May our footsteps be gentle.