Of all the public schools in the state, Georgia State University in Atlanta provides the most extensive education in actual filmmaking. For undergraduates, a cinematic education is earned via the film and video major, which provides students with experience in every aspect of the industry, including history, criticism, production and writing. The school takes it a step further, though, by also offering a master's degree in film. Here, the degree is divided into three areas of study: production, screenwriting and moving image studies. Students in each area are encouraged to work together to create a multidimensional film community. The film department at GSU also operates the Cinefest Film Theatre, which shows independent films and hosts student festivals.
The Art Institute, once only in Pittsburgh, now features dozens of locations across the country where students can obtain a focused artistic education. One such location is the Art Institute of Atlanta, located just down the street from the city's Georgia Tech campus. Among a variety of art majors, the school provides several within the field of media arts. Unlike other schools with film degrees, the Art Institute of Atlanta breaks the field down into more specific areas of study, such as animation and visual effects. The most general film major available would be digital filmmaking and video production. Here the focus is mostly on the production of films, including as cinematography, shooting and editing, all of which are learned within modern digital formats.
Although established in 1978, the Savannah College of Art and Design has quickly developed into a respected art college with a variety of degrees and multiple campuses abroad. The school's film and television department was created with the intent of covering all aspects of visual media, from experimental films to music videos. While there are courses that cover writing as well as film studies, the focus is on production, which includes not only creating quality pieces of film, but mastering the equipment involved in the trade. Many of the students earn a spot in the annual Savannah Film Festival alongside notable filmmakers and actors.
Although the University of Georgia is the largest school system in the state, the film department is not as quite as extensive as that of other institutions in the region. While other schools offer an education in filmmaking, the state's flagship school only offers degrees centered around film studies. There are a handful of courses on writing and production; however, the major focus is on film history, aesthetics and criticism.