I am currently at AFDA in my second year and I am confused at how B vdMerwe could have such insight into it's teaching program having only attended for 2 weeks. The facilities at the school are state of the art. there is plenty of hands on experience and students are currently working on an average of 4 short films per term. the lecturers are friendly and approachable and the curriculum offers the latest in film and media teachings. Past students of AFDA are currently winning awards all over the world and they have a 98% employment rate.
My score: 10.

I am an AFDA graduate working out in the industry. I enjoyed my 4 years at AFDA, who wouldn't? They give you cameras, film stock and post facilities... what more do you need from a film school? Ok maybe a little more. Film Schools cannot make directors/ editors/ designers, they can only filter them. By that I mean, if you are a good director and you are meant to direct then you will end up doing that despite the short comings of a film school, however, if you have no talent in directing and just want to enter a career for ego's sake, then a film school should weed you out and expose you. AFDA sometimes succeeds in removing the ego talents from the real working talents, other times it just allows them to coast on through for finances sake... that to me is a major weak link in the school system. I got to chat with a script lecturer from UCLA, she said that generically film schools around the world are the same, but it's really a case of not who you learn from that will assist you in the future, but who you learn with. It's all about contacts and friends and nepetism, not what mark your film school gave you on a progress assesment report. AFDA isn't perfect, I fought my way through 4 years, trying to learn my craft, trying to practise my craft. I wasn't prepared for the industry. I am still learning elementary technical things that allow me to be a stronger director. I wish I had more exposure to better acting talent. I wish I had exposure to better editors. I wish I had better exposure to better lecturers. BUT! I didn't, such is life... AFDA gave me a bit of a head start and I am prepared to work incredibly hard to make it and compensate for what I didn't learn there. Thank you AFDA for what you gave me... but screw you for what you could've but didn't. I cant recommend this school to just anyone, but if you are burning inside and really need to make movies, then I can. PLUS! Be prepared to enter a DEAD DEAD DEAD film industry in SA... be prepared to work for nothing... be prepared to go into development for 5 years and be prepared to work your guts out!
My score: 5.

hey, i'll be enrolling at AFDA next year and i'm not sure if i'm doing the right thing. What i wanna know is does AFDA offer any training on how to suvive in the nearly non existent film industry in South Africa or do they just stuff you wit a piece of paper called a degee to fend for your self.

I love Afda from the day I sat foot in that place I felt at home...The industry is hard yes but so is every other proffesion be it politics , law ,economics or whatever.Afda is the only film school that provides you with technical hands on experiance.Where as Uj only relies on theory based work...Most famous directors,actors,editors ect never did the theory part and relied on the practical work!!!This is what makes Afda so unique it teaches you through experiance...And Experiance inriches your knoweledge further then theory!I cannot judge Afda effectivelly yet however I grew up working in the industry and my family worked in the industry for years...Experiance has taught me that hard will bring you somewhere and Afda will be the place I hope to gain that experiance from!