Variety Names Belmont Among North America's Best Film Schools for the Eighth Consecutive Year

Belmont returns to Variety's Education Impact Report amid Nashville's $6.4 billion film economy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 22, 2026) – Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business has again earned a place on Variety's Education Impact Report, recognized among the best film programs in North America for 2026. This year's report spotlights schools leading on innovation and storytelling as the industry navigates rapid change. Belmont's Nashville-rooted, hands-on model earned its place on a list that includes programs from USC, NYU, UCLA and other institutions from both coasts. 

The recognition carries particular weight as Nashville's profile as a major entertainment hub continues to rise. As of 2026, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission estimates that the film industry generates $6.4 billion in entertainment-sector GDP statewide, with Tennessee ranking fifth in the nation for film and video production employment. Nashville's momentum is drawing filmmakers and industry professionals from both coasts, deepening the network of connections Belmont students tap into before they ever graduate. 

The recognition marks eight consecutive years on the report, reflecting both the program's rapid growth and Nashville's expanding footprint in the film industry. Belmont stands as the only southern institution recognized on both Billboard's top music business programs and Variety's top film education lists, a distinction otherwise held only by select schools on the East and West Coasts.  

 "Students come to Belmont because they want more than technical training. They want to tell stories that move culture and step into careers where they can lead and thrive," said Brittany Schaffer, dean of the Curb College. "Nashville gives them a living classroom and a community of collaborators and mentors, often making it hard to tell where Belmont ends and the industry begins. This recognition from Variety affirms that our approach is working. We pair exceptional students with passionate faculty, world-class facilities and real-world projects that fuel meaningful industry relationships, all within a community that genuinely cares about their success and long-term well-being."

Now in its 14th year, Belmont's film program has grown into one of the most comprehensive in the South. The program enrolls nearly 350 majors across a full suite of film education pathways including motion picture production, media production, film and tv writing, and cinema and television studies.  

"Students are in front of a camera within weeks of their first semester, but what we're really building is professionals," said Jay New, chair of Film, Television and Media Production. "We work alongside industry partners to stay ahead of where the industry is headed, not just where it's been. Our goal is to send graduates out who are ready to lead and who understand everything from the creative to the contractual side of what it takes to make a career in this business." 

Belmont's facilities remain among the most advanced available to film students anywhere, housing the first Dolby Atmos mixing theater on a university campus globally, a 2,500-square-foot sound stage and a specialized Foley and ADR studio. But the program's edge goes beyond equipment. Faculty come directly from the entertainment industry, and an active advisory board spanning music, film, television, publishing and media helps the program continuously assess what skills students will need next. 

That same forward focus shapes how Belmont approaches AI. Students use platforms like Sora for pre-visualization and Largo AI for production planning, while also examining the legal and ethical questions surrounding authorship, intellectual property and artist rights, grounding their technical training in the kind of judgment the industry increasingly demands.  

Belmont also distinguishes itself through a deliberate focus on student well-being. The University's Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, launched in partnership with the Country Music Association, addresses mental health research, education and resources across the industry. On campus, Social and Emotional Wellness in the Entertainment Industry has become one of the most popular courses offered, reflecting both student demand and the program's broader commitment to shaping a more sustainable creative industry. 

As streaming platforms, virtual production and AI continue to reshape filmmaking, Belmont graduates enter the field at the intersection of creative storytelling and technological innovation, ready not just to join the entertainment industry but to help define its next chapter.