About

The NHSI Film & Video Institute at Northwestern University is a five-week, residential summer conservatory for high school students. Based on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, the program is part of the long-standing “Cherubs” tradition and offers intensive, university-level training in film craft and media production.

Students select one of three primary concentrations: Production, Screenwriting, or Acting on Camera. Each track follows a full-day schedule; mornings are devoted to core track instruction—such as cinematography and editing for Production, or narrative structure for Screenwriting—while afternoons and evenings include electives like storyboarding and directing labs. The program operates as a collaborative production environment, culminating in a formal “Festival of First Cuts” screening showcase where student-led films are presented.

The institute is open to students currently in their sophomore or junior year who typically rank in or near the top 30%of their class. Admission is selective, evaluating creative potential and academic readiness. For the 2026 cycle, the Regular Admission deadline is March 13, 2026. The program fee is $8,000, which includes tuition, housing, and meals. Need-based financial aid is available through the NHSI scholarship process.

NHSI Film & Video offers an authentic approximation of undergraduate film school, making it ideal for students seeking sustained immersion in professional-level creative practice before college. The Cherubs programs are some of the most respected of their kind, and for students with serious curiosity or intent to pursue film, screenwriting, or acting, the Film & VIdeo Institute is one of the best precollege options available.