15 Film Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
If you're a college student looking to move beyond classroom projects and gain experience on film sets, film internships offer a great way to get started. These internships allow you to build production skills, observe industry workflows, and connect with professionals in the film, TV, and digital content world.
Whether you're interested in directing, screenwriting, animation, editing, or entertainment communications, there’s an internship for you. We've curated a list of top film internships for college students, chosen for their prestige, experience, and networking opportunities with filmmakers, executives, and studio teams. These internships cover a range of companies within the industry, from production companies to streaming platforms and TV networks.
If you’re exploring additional competitive options, you might like our guides to other prestigious internships for students, ideal for building a well-rounded professional profile. But if your goal is to gain creative experience and understand how the film industry works, this list is your starting point. Below is a list of 15 film internships for college students that can help you prepare for a career in entertainment.
15 Film Internships for College Students
Location:Â Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline:Â Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).Â
Program dates:Â Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location:Â Culver City, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour (may include benefits)
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility: Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university and able to work 10–29 hours/week in person
If you want to dive into the real world of big-studio production, this internship at Sony Pictures is where things get interesting. You’ll work with teams that build promotional content for movies and shows, brainstorm creative ideas, and help with production shoots. You’ll have the opportunity to handle scripts, assist in campaign planning, and learn how marketing and storytelling come together to engage audiences. It’s a fast-paced and creative environment, ideal for students who want to understand how marketing and storytelling combine at a major studio, and how creative content drives audience engagement globally.
Location:Â Culver City, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Must be enrolled in college/university | Relevant coursework in media, production, or post-production is preferred
Here’s your chance to learn what happens after filming wraps up. This post-production internship gives you an insider view of editing, mastering, and how teams pull everything together before a show airs. You’ll help with internal meetings, track drives and media, and even learn how VFX bidding works. You’ll also see how teams like Finance and Business Affairs play a role in the final stages of production. It’s perfect if you’ve ever been curious about how those post-credit scenes come to life (literally).
Location:Â Van Nuys, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university | Strong skills in research, writing, and familiarity with Canva, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro are preferred
This internship is ideal if you’re interested in unscripted storytelling or reality TV. At Sony’s B17 Entertainment, you’ll brainstorm new show ideas, write copy, help with pitch decks, and analyze entertainment trends. The team behind projects like Book of Queer and Thanks A Million is known for being creative and fast-moving. You’ll get to explore how ideas go from concept to pilot, all while sharpening your writing, research, and design skills using tools like Photoshop or Canva.
Location:Â Los Angeles, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â November 11
Eligibility:Â Enrolled in an accredited college/university
If you love animated movies, this internship will give you a peek into how those colorful worlds are built. You’ll conduct script coverage, research, and attend creative meetings. You’ll also help organize story materials and coordinate logistics for the animation process. Working directly with producers and creative leads will allow you to see how an animated film evolves from early sketches to the final cut. It’s a fun yet structured way to get your feet wet in the animation side of film.
Location:Â Culver City, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â November 11
Eligibility:Â College students with strong reading and writing skills
Working at 3000 Pictures, you’ll dive into the earliest stage of filmmaking: turning books into movies. You’ll read manuscripts, evaluate potential adaptations, and assist with development operations. The division has worked on acclaimed films like Where the Crawdads Sing, giving you insight into what makes a story screen-worthy. Among film internships for college students, this one is particularly valuable if you’re drawn to screenwriting, story development, or literary adaptation.
Location:Â Culver City, California (Hybrid)
Cost/Stipend:Â $19/hour
Dates: January 12–April 24
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â College students interested in creative writing or television development
If you’re all about TV dramas, this one’s worth your time. You’ll help analyze scripts, research new show ideas, write coverage, and help with the production of pitch materials. You may also join table reads, casting sessions, and development meetings, giving you real exposure to how a TV show comes together. It’s one of those film internships for college students that shows you what actually goes into making TV magic happen.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22/hour
Dates: May–August (11 weeks)
Application Deadline:Â December 10
Eligibility:Â Must be 18+ and enrolled in or recently graduated from a post-secondary program
The General TD Internship at Disney Animation combines coding and artistry, allowing you to work on procedural tools and CG animation workflows. You’ll be paired with a mentor who will help you define and solve production challenges like building tools, writing code, and optimizing workflows. Your project may involve developing tools for procedural generation, improving data pipelines, or designing interfaces for artists. You’ll also participate in feedback loops: iterating on your tool with actual users. This internship balances engineering and creativity, making it ideal for students interested in production pipelines, tools development, and animation technology.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22.50/hour
Dates: May–August (11 weeks)
Application Deadline:Â November 9
Eligibility:Â Must be 18+ and enrolled in or graduated within 6 months of a post-secondary program
In this internship, you’ll dive into rigging, simulation, and character dynamics. You’ll help build the realism of animated characters by developing simulation rigs, creating animator-friendly interfaces, and solving technical challenges. You’ll team up with Disney artists who turn characters into living motion. It’s one of the most tech-driven film internships for college students, seamlessly merging the creative and technical aspects.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22/hour
Dates: January–March (10–11 weeks)
Application Deadline:Â November 9
Eligibility:Â Must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a post-secondary program
As a CG Generalist Intern, you’ll explore various areas of the animation pipeline, including modeling, lighting, and VFX. Mentors help you strengthen both artistic and technical skills while contributing to studio projects. Projects may include character animation, rigging, effects (such as fire/smoke), layout, texturing, and set extension. You’ll work closely with artists and technologists, contributing to real production tools and scenes. This experience gives a well-rounded understanding of how major animation productions operate. It’s ideal for students seeking film internships that balance artistry with hands-on production.
Location:Â Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22.50/hour
Dates: January–June
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Enrolled in an accredited college/university | Must be 18+ | Provided own housing and reliable transportation in the Philadelphia area
This internship gives you a front-row seat to how a broadcast TV station operates in modern media. Working at WPVI-TV/6abc in their Multiplatform Programming or Community Engagement Department, you’ll help plan and produce TV segments, support event coverage, and contribute to community-focused content. You might assist with shoots, edit with Premiere Pro, and help manage social media engagement. It’s a hands-on newsroom experience, ideal for students who want to combine digital storytelling, broadcast production, and community journalism.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22.50/hour
Dates: January–June (6-month commitment)
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Enrolled in an accredited college/university | Communications coursework preferred
In this role, you’ll join the Strategic Communications team for Disney Entertainment Television, working across brands like ABC, Hulu, FX, Freeform, and National Geographic. Your day-to-day could include writing internal communications, helping coordinate executive messaging, planning media events, supporting video shoots, and producing creative content for leadership. You’ll also assist with campaign planning, stakeholder presentations, and media tours. The internship builds strong communication, storytelling, and project coordination skills within a major entertainment company.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22.50/hour
Dates: January–June
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university | Must be 18+ | Unrestricted U.S. work authorization | Portfolio required
As an intern, you’ll work on the creative marketing team that builds promotional campaigns for Hulu Originals. Your tasks may include brainstorming campaign ideas, writing and editing copy, producing creative assets, and assisting with the coordination of shoot days or design deliverables. You’ll collaborate with designers, copywriters, and producers, learning how a streaming platform shapes its brand, builds awareness, and connects with audiences. For those seeking film internships for college students that combine design, writing, and production, this one’s an exciting blend of all three.
Location:Â Burbank, California (Onsite)
Cost/Stipend:Â $22.50/hour
Dates: January–June (6-month full-time)
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility:Â Must be enrolled in an accredited college or university | Must be 18+ | Unrestricted U.S. work authorization
In this internship, you’ll rotate across multiple Communications teams within Disney Entertainment Television, covering brands like ABC, FX, Hulu Originals, Freeform, and National Geographic. Your day-to-day responsibilities may include compiling media coverage, maintaining press lists, writing press materials, and supporting publicity events. You’ll also help document meetings, brainstorm strategy in pitching sessions, and assist with social media campaigns. This internship is ideal for students interested in public relations, media strategy, and how major studios manage external storytelling and press relations.
Location:Â Glendale, California (Hybrid/Remote options depending on department)
Cost/Stipend:Â Paid (varies by department)
Dates: January 26–April 3
Application Deadline:Â October 20
Eligibility:Â Open to current college students and recent graduates
The DreamWorks Internship Program is one of the most renowned in animation. You’ll work alongside artists, animators, story developers, and production leads across different teams from 2D and CG to visual development, story, or production. Depending on your placement, you might contribute to real production sequences, build concept art, or help refine story elements. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students who are passionate about animation and want hands-on experience in a collaborative studio environment.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - DreamWorks logo