Bring your Future Into Focus
Your Story Starts Here
As a top film school in Oklahoma, we provide students who want to work in the film industry the chance to develop their interest into a skillset through top-quality education, craft development, mentorship, and hands-on training. Our film programs help you develop the skills needed for your first entry-level film job.
Our Impact
Cherokee Film Institute is more than a place of learning; it is a place of empowerment that will help create the talented Native American workforce necessary for bringing authentic Native perspectives, characters, cultures and more to a worldwide audience.
We can’t wait to see where these participants go in their film careers and to see what is next for Cherokee Film and film in Oklahoma.
As the industry continues to grow in and around the Cherokee Nation Reservation, we need more people to be trained to work on film sets, so we are stepping in to make that happen. There’s a job for everyone in film, and we are excited to help people find their place and a sustainable career while empowering our people to tell more of our stories.
Partnerships Create Opportunities
Film Courses Offered
Applications Are Currently Closed
Let's Get Reel
Interested in Becoming an Instructor?
Train the next generation of filmmakers! Cherokee Film Institute is looking for part-time film instructors to teach department-specific curricula created by our subject matter experts. If you’re interested in shaping the future of film, apply to be an instructor today!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can apply to Cherokee Film Institute?
Cherokee Film Institute courses are open to anyone over 18 who is interested in gaining the skills and training needed to enter the film and media industry.
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Is Cherokee Film Institute only for Cherokees and Native American citizens?
No. Cherokee Film Institute is open to anyone who is interested in gaining the skills and training needed to enter the film and media industry, including non-Native Americans.
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What courses are offered at Cherokee Film Institute?
Currently CFI offers four courses:
- Introduction to Industry: Students will gain a holistic overview of all career opportunities in the film & media industry, as well as the state of the industry. CFI stands apart from other programs because of its focus on Native American representation. The required Introduction to Industry course offers content not found in other training programs, such as what to expect when filming with tribes and protocol for filming on tribal lands.
- Introduction to Camera Basics: Students will learn the basic information to become a beginning camera operator.
- Introduction to Location Scouting: Students will learn how to scout potential film locations, best practices in communication and working with different production departments to ensure success, among other skills.
- Introduction to Production Office: Students will learn how to work in and run the production office of a feature film, where all administrative tasks are handled and how to work with all production departments.
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How and where do I apply?
Anyone interested in applying to attend Cherokee Film Institute can fill out the application located here.
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Do I have to be a college student to take CFI courses?
No. Cherokee Film Institute courses are available to anyone 18 years or older who is interested in becoming trained to work in the film industry.
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Who is eligible for a tuition waiver?
Tuition waivers are temporarily available for citizens of the Cherokee Nation or other federally recognized tribes.
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What is the process to receive a tuition waiver?
Cherokee and Native citizens will be considered for a tuition waiver upon application.
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Are tuition waivers awarded for each course, or for the entire program?
Tuition waivers awarded by Cherokee Film Institute cover the cost of tuition for up to three CFI courses taken over a 12-month period.
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Are Cherokee Film Institute courses offered virtually?
Currently, Cherokee Film Institute courses are only offered in person at Cherokee Film Studios, Owasso Campus.
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What happens if I don’t finish a course?
Students who do not finish a course will not earn credit for that course towards their certification. They will need to work with a CFI staff advisor to determine their next steps in the program.
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How much does it cost to attend Cherokee Film Institute?
Each CFI course costs $700 to attend. Workshops and other programming that are included in the CFI certification program may charge other fees. However, Cherokee Nation citizens or citizens of another federally recognized tribe are eligible to apply for tuition waivers that cover the cost of certification ($2,100).
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How do I know if a course I’ve already taken elsewhere can count toward my CFI certification?
CFI certifies affiliate courses on a case-by-case basis. All curriculums must be submitted by the owner to be considered by CFI. For example, if you took a class at the University of Tulsa, only that institution is allowed to submit the curriculum to CFI for consideration.
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How long does it take to complete the certification?
CFI certification is earned through completing and passing 120 contact hours of CFI or CFI-approved workforce training. Coursework may vary from student to student. Certificate earners are required to take CFI’s “Intro to the Industry” (40 hours), followed by 80 elective hours of approved coursework. Course dates vary with different courses being offered each month. Certification can be earned within 3 months.
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Why should I attend Cherokee Film Institute?
Cherokee Film Institute is the first-of-its-kind endeavor by a tribe. Our program was created to be more inclusive of Native Americans in film and media while providing industry-standard workforce training for individuals interested in entering the industry.
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How do I know the courses at CFI are industry-standard?
CFI courses are designed by subject matter experts and reviewed by industry professionals. This allows us to make sure that all coursework from the CFI and approved programs align with the current trends and standards of the film and media industry.
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Is a Cherokee Film Institute certification required to work on productions in the Cherokee Nation?
No, working on productions in Cherokee Nation is at the sole discretion of the production company. However, certification earners are accredited by Cherokee Film.
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What if CFI courses don’t align with my schedule?
CFI does not follow a traditional school semester. Courses will be offered at different times, such as on weekends and in the evening, in an attempt to accommodate as many students’ varied schedules as possible.