Overview
The film and video industry entertains, challenges, impacts our understanding of current events, heightens our awareness of social issues, and influences our buying decisions. Join this cultural phenomenon by developing the skills to create compelling stories and visual experiences that resonate with audiences.
Get career ready and prepare to work in one of Canada’s evolving media industries. This program is delivered in a unique environment that combines traditional teaching methods with hands-on production and project models. You’ll learn the fundamentals of scriptwriting, producing, directing, cinematography, sound recording, and editing, as well as the business aspects of the film and video industries.
Is the program already waitlisted? Check out the Radio, Television and Broadcast News program.
Credential
Upon successfully completing this program, graduates will receive a SAIT diploma in Film and Video Production.
Get important updates about our business and tech programs
Career opportunities
Graduates may pursue job opportunities on productions including feature films, commercials, music videos, documentaries, specialty channel programming, television series and public service or corporate productions. Potential positions include:
- video technician
- videographer
- editor
- production assistant
Most entry-level work is available on a freelance or contract basis. Some entrepreneurial graduates begin their own businesses.
Related careers:
- filmographer
Tuition and fees
Estimated cost per year:
Domestic total 2023/24
- Year 1: $6,940
- Year 2: $6,940
International total 2023/24
- Year 1: $19,935.40
- Year 2: $19,935.40
Final costs are dependent on the number of courses a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
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Admission requirements
Program requirements
Completion of the following courses or equivalents:
- at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2 or equivalents.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sadt.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023* | May 8, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
| Winter 2024 | Jan. 8, 2024 | Aug. 16, 2024 |
| Spring 2024 | May 6, 2024 | Dec. 13, 2024 |
*Students will complete four semesters consecutively without a winter break.
Courses
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
First Year
Semester 1
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FVDO-200 | Film Production I | 3.0 |
| FVDO-202 | Film Post-Production I | 3.0 |
| FVDO-203 | Film Directing and Producing | 3.0 |
| FVDO-204 | Story Writing for Film I | 3.0 |
| FVDO-208 | Introduction to Film | 1.5 |
| LDSH-243 | Leadership | 1.5 |
| Semester 1 Total | 15.0 | |
Semester 2
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FVDO-250 | Film Production II | 3.0 |
| FVDO-252 | Film Post-Production II | 3.0 |
| FVDO-254 | Story Writing for Film II | 3.0 |
| FVDO-256 | Film and Video Directing I | 3.0 |
| FVDO-258 | Business of Film I | 3.0 |
| Semester 2 Total | 15.0 | |
Co-op Work Term (Optional)
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CPWK-255 | Cooperative Work Term | 0 |
| First Year Total | 30.0 | |
Second Year
Semester 3
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FVDO-300 | Film Production III | 3.0 |
| FVDO-302 | Film Post-Production III | 3.0 |
| FVDO-303 | Film and Video Directing II | 3.0 |
| FVDO-304 | Story Writing for Film III | 3.0 |
| FVDO-308 | Business of Film II | 3.0 |
| Semester 3 Total | 15.0 | |
Semester 4
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| FVDO-350 | Film Production IV | 3.0 |
| FVDO-353 | Film and Video Directing III | 3.0 |
| FVDO-357 | Business of Film III | 3.0 |
| PROJ-309 | Capstone Project | 3.0 |
| SCPT-351 | Script Writing for Film | 3.0 |
| Semester 4 Total | 15.0 | |
| Second Year Total | 30.0 | |
| Program Total | 60.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023. They are an estimate of tuition and fees based on the recommended course load per year. *
Domestic students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $5,370 | $948 | $622 | $6,940 |
| 2 | 2 | $5,370 | $948 | $622 | $6,940 |
International students
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $18,365.40 | $948 | $622 | $19,935.40 |
| 2 | 2 | $18,365.40 | $948 | $622 | $19,935.40 |
*For a detailed breakdown of tuition costs per course, visit the domestic and international fee tables.
Fees
Your fees are calculated based on the number of course credits you take per semester (approximately 16 weeks of study). In most cases, your fee is determined based on whether you're taking more or less than nine (9) course credits (more than nine credits in a semester are considered full-time studies.)
Fees are adjusted for programs with start dates outside of the typical 15-week program.
Learn more about what your fees are for
Fees are subject to change without notice.
| Fees | < 9 credits per semester | > 9 credits per semester |
| SAIT fees | ||
| Campus athletic and recreation | $51.50 | $103 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 | $105.50 |
| UPass* | N/A | $160 |
| Total | $157 | $474 |
| Saitsa fees | ||
| Student association fee** | $16.23/credit | $146 |
| Health plan*** | N/A | $86 ($172 annually) |
| Dental plan*** | N/A | $79 ($158 annually) |
| Total | $311 maximum | $476 |
*Additional eligibility requirements apply for students to obtain a UPass. To check your eligibility, visit our Upass page.
**Saitsa fees are paid per credit to a maximum amount of $146 per semester.
***Health and dental fees are charged per semester to an annual maximum amount of $172 for health and $158 for dental. In most cases, program fees quoted are based on students paying for a full year of health and dental coverage. International students are charged these fees regardless of course load. Domestic students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Learn more at saitsa.com/benefits.
Books and supplies*
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about your tuition and financial aid options
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation (ORNT 118) for students starting in Spring 2023 will take place on campus May 5. Check your schedule in mySAIT for the time and location details.
Learn more about campus orientation.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with custom hardware and software requirement.
All computers must meet the following minimum specifications:
| Recommended specifications for Windows | Recommended specifications for Mac | |
| Processor | Intel 7th Gen or newer CPU with Quick Sync – or AMD Ryzen™ 3000 Series/Threadripper2000 series or newer CPU | Intel® 7thGen or newer CPU or Apple silicon M1 or newer |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) version V20H2 or later | macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or later |
| Memory | Dual channel memory: 16 GB of RAM or HD media | Apple silicon: 16 GB of unified memory Intel: 16 GB of RAM |
| GPU | 4GB of GPU memory for HD and some 4K media For a list of supported graphic cards and drivers, see Adobe specs |
Apple silicon: 16 GB of unified memory Intel: 4 GB of GPU Memory for HD and some 4K workflows |
| Storage | Fast internal SSD for app installation and cache 512GB or greater Additional high-speed external drive for media - 1TB Minimum |
Fast internal SSD for app installation and cache 512GB or greater Additional high-speed external drive for media - 1TB Minimum |
| Display | 1920 x 1080 or greater | 1920 x 1080 or greater |
| Sound card | ASIO compatible or Microsoft Windows Driver Model | Default Mac OS Apple sound drivers |
Students must also supply the following peripherals and software:
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
This program does not require any textbooks.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8543
sadt.advising@sait.ca
Academic chair
Iman Bukhari, Academic Chair
Iman.Bukhari@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
Your journey starts here
Sign up to get important updates on: