In the August 3 issue, preeminent film industry publication The Hollywood Reporter honored Columbia College Chicago as one of the top 25 film schools. Aided by industry insiders, The Hollywood Reporter evaluated the world’s most prestigious film programs for the 2012 list.

“Columbia College Chicago produces some of the most creative, successful innovators in the film industry through our collaborative and experiential hands-on approach to teaching filmmaking,” said Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D., president of Columbia College Chicago. “It certainly speaks to our educational approach and the respect and reputation we have in the industry. We are pleased to be recognized and included with such an esteemed group of institutions worldwide.”

Columbia College Chicago, the country’s largest private arts and media educational institution, is an urban institution that boasts a vibrant location, sophisticated technical facilities, a cross-disciplinary hands-on curriculum and a faculty of working professionals, film scholars and independent filmmakers as well as a network of distinguished alumni.

Based in the downtown South Loop of Chicago, the Film & Video Department at Columbia College has evolved over more than four decades into a world-class program focusing on hands-on learning and cross-disciplinary collaborations bridging disciplines and departments. The Film & Video Department offers nearly two hundred specialized undergraduate and graduate courses, comprising one of the most comprehensive curricula of any film school in the country. With Bachelors and Masters of Fine Arts degrees in everything from creative producing to directing to animation as well as access to faculty and staff who maintain working connections in the global film industry, the more-than-1800 students in Columbia College’s film program are well-equipped with the knowledge and practical experience to enter the professional market.

Taught by leading industry professionals, Columbia College’s Semester in L.A. program is held year round on the lot of Raleigh Studios to immerse students from across disciplines into the industry and is adept at preparing students for industry careers and connecting them with the entertainment industry; more than 75 percent of the Semester in L.A. students secure internships or jobs.

Notable alumni include Oscar-winning cinematographers Janusz Kaminski (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan) and Mauro Fiore (Avatar); industry leaders like Len Amato, president of HBO Films, Hal Haenal, senior vice president of studio operations at Fox Studios; and more recent standouts like Steve Pink, writer and director (Hot Tub Time Machine), Aaron Semel, co-producer of the Hatfields & McCoys miniseries and producer/director team Bob Teitel and George Tillman Jr. (Men of Honor, Barbershop, Notorious).