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 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.”
Chuck Hoskin Jr.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief
“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.”
Brian Huseman
Vice President of Public Policy and Community Engagement at Amazon
“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.”
Jennifer Loren
Senior Director of Cherokee Film
Collaboration Creates Opportunities
Industry and community collaboration advance our long-term strategy to remove barriers to training and career opportunities in film and media for Native Americans. In 2025, a collaboration between Cherokee Nation and Amazon provided full tuition waivers to Cherokee Film Institute’s inaugural class of trainees.
Film Courses Offered
Cherokee Film Institute offers a variety of courses taught by leading film industry professionals. Click the link to find a list of courses currently being offered, with additional courses in various areas of study to be added at a later date.
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!
Let's Get Reel