AFDA Johannesburg
Established 1994
AFDA was established in Johannesburg in 1994 and is currently situated on a 10 000 square metre campus within a stone’s throw of the national TV broadcaster, the SABC.
Also known as Egoli (‘place of gold’) or Jozi, it is South Africa’s go-to TV production kitchen, and enjoys sunny weather all year round. The six million strong population of this vibrant melting pot are fondly known as Jo’burgers.
10 Good Reasons to Study at AFDA Johannesburg
- Hub of the Creative Industry: Located in Auckland Park, the campus is “a stone’s throw” from the SABC and major production houses, placing you in the center of South Africa’s primary TV and film hub.
- Academy Award-Winning Legacy: AFDA is the first and only African film school to win the Student Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Student Film (2006) and continues to produce South African Oscar candidates regularly.
- Global Recognition (CILECT): As a full member of CILECT, AFDA is internationally ranked alongside top institutions like USC and UCLA, allowing students to further their studies at over 180 member schools worldwide.
- No Traditional Sit-Down Exams: Assessment is project-led and mimics industry practices, focusing on multiple assessment modes like audience response, market dynamics, and reviews by industry experts.
- Elite Industry Network: With over 8,500 alumni, the “AFDA family” is pervasive across the entertainment industry. Graduates often hire fellow AFDA graduates because they trust the technical and professional training they received.
- High-End Professional Gear: Students train with industry-standard equipment from global partners like ARRI (world-class camera/lighting systems), Adobe, and Apple.
- Fully Accredited Qualifications: All degrees and certificates are fully accredited by the CHE, DHET, and SAQA, ensuring your qualification is recognized both locally and internationally.
- Experiential & Collaborative Learning: The “signature pedagogy” emphasizes hands-on, project-led learning, where students across different disciplines (film, performance, business) collaborate on over 220 productions annually.
- Multi-Hyphenate Career Preparation: Graduates are trained as innovators and entrepreneurs capable of navigating a freelance, portfolio-driven economy, with the skills to conceptualise, produce, and distribute content independently.
- Dominant Award Performance: In 2025 alone, AFDA alumni and staff dominated the SAFTAs with 16 wins and claimed top honours at the National Film & TV Awards, including Best Feature Film
