Moving to Study Film in the Basque Country: What No One Tells You

Coming to Study Film in the Basque Country: What No One Tells You

Moving to study film outside your hometown is not an easy decision, but it can mean a significant change in your life.

It involves relocating, changing your environment, and betting on something that often not everyone understands. Still, every year more students take the leap and come north to train in audiovisual arts in a more practical and real way.

At the Basque Film School, we welcome students from all over Spain each year, especially from Cantabria, Burgos, La Rioja, or Navarra, who are looking for more than theory: to shoot, make mistakes, learn, and shoot again.

Taking the Leap: Studying Film Outside Your Community

Those considering studying film in Cantabria, Burgos, or Logroño often find a limited or very general offer. That’s why many decide to look a little further and consider other nearby options.

Moreover, Bilbao and Bizkaia have become in recent years one of the audiovisual hubs of the north, with film shoots, production companies, and a cultural activity that is noticeable both on the streets and in classrooms.

Bilbao is Not Madrid or Barcelona (and That’s an Advantage for Learning Film)

Many students arriving from communities such as Cantabria or Burgos agree on the same thing: Bilbao is much more accessible. Distances are short, the cost of living is more affordable, and access to real projects is more direct than in cities saturated with competition.

Here it’s easier to find your place, move freely, and focus on what matters: learning to make films.

The Student Profile That Repeats Year After Year

There is a clear pattern each year among those who decide to come to the Basque Country to study film:

• Students from all over Spain, especially Cantabria, Burgos, or La Rioja, but also from Madrid, Barcelona, Andalusia, and many more.
• A desire for practical training from day one.
• Little interest in excessively theoretical models or those disconnected from the industry.

They don’t come just to study film. They come to make films.

And If You Come From Further Away, You Also Have a Place Here

Although most students come from the north, each year we also welcome students from Murcia, Andalusia, and other more distant regions.

Taking the leap can be intimidating, but many agree that changing their environment helps them focus, break their routine, and live film with more intensity.

If you come from far away, you’re not an exception. You are part of the ECPV journey.

Bilbao, a Welcoming City to Study Film

Bilbao often surprises those who arrive for the first time. It is a manageable, close-knit, and easy-to-navigate city, which is highly appreciated when you come to study and need to focus on learning.

Bilbao, a True Film Set

The cultural atmosphere, neighborhood life, and the mix of people from different places make integrating easier than it seems. Moreover, it is a safe city, well connected, and perfectly sized to move between classes, shoots, and personal life without wasting time or energy.

For many students, Bilbao ends up not only being a great place to study film but also to live it.

Is It Worth Moving to Study Film?

If you are looking for practical training, direct contact with the industry, and an environment that allows you to grow as a creator, the answer is usually yes.

That is why at ECPV, every year we keep welcoming students from all over Spain who decide to come to the Basque Country to learn film from within.

Enrollment Now Open at the Basque Film School

Enrollments are now open. If you are considering studying film in Bilbao, you can enroll directly or contact us without obligation to resolve any questions about the program, the enrollment process, or what it’s like to study film from another region.

We’ll be happy to help you take the next step.

Our Programs Include:

Directing · Cinematography · Screenwriting · Acting · Editing and Sound · Executive Production · Costume · Dubbing · Cinematography