‘Variety’ recognizes RIT as one of the top innovative film schools in the country

RIT’s School of Film and Animation has been continuously recognized as being among the best film and animation schools in the country. The latest recognition comes from Variety magazine’s 2026 Education Impact Report.

When crafting its Education Impact Report, Variety aimed to highlight institutions that are helping students adapt to the changing landscape of the entertainment industry by leaning into innovations in technology and storytelling. Twenty-six colleges and universities were included in this year’s list.

Variety lauded RIT’s School of Film and Animation for its forward-thinking curriculum, engaged faculty members who remain current on emerging needs and technologies, and it’s human-centered approach to engaging with artificial intelligence. This is the second year RIT has been included in the annual report by Variety.

“RIT has a long history of being at the forefront of emerging fields—whether in photography, print technology, or motion picture science—and we believe it’s critical that generative AI does not lead us toward a future that exploits artists,” said RIT President Bill Sanders. “We’re committed to making sure our students’ creativity remains, first and foremost, human driven. That balance between technological innovation and human creativity has always been central to RIT, and that is not going to change.”

RIT’s School of Film and Animation has a growing presence and reputation in Hollywood, earning repeated recognitions from publications like The Hollywood Reporter, TheWrap, and Animation Career Review, in addition to Variety.

Ricky Figueroa, director of RIT’s School of Film and Animation and the John Traver Endowed Professor, said the school prioritizes embracing technological innovations to ensure graduates can find success in the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry.

“Our students are looking to learn the creative, critical thinking, and technical skills that have always been at the heart of our film school. RIT’s legacy as a leader of teaching new technologies will continue as the industry evolves,” said Figueroa. “Our graduates are well prepared to navigate this evolving technological landscape, while keeping the art of storytelling and originality front and center as filmmakers and creative technologists.”

In addition to supporting exploration with new technologies, immersive and creatively challenging programs like RIT in LA and the school’s student exchange program with the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) offer opportunities for students to exercise their skills outside of the classroom. Experiential learning opportunities like these contribute to RIT’s legacy of nurturing a “maker” mentality in students. 

RIT’s impact and contributions to innovations in the entertainment industry are palatable when considering the outcomes of alumni like Alex Forsythe, senior director of science and tech at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; John Traver, Frame.io co-founder and creative technologist; and Christopher Edwards, founder and CEO of The Third Floor visualization studio.

Go to RIT’s School of Film and Animation website to learn more about its program offerings.