CISA Film Academy

A vocational film school in the Swiss cinema hub

CISA (Conservatorio Internazionale di Scienze Audiovisive, the International Conservatory of Audiovisual Sciences) is a specialized film school in Locarno founded in 1992 by Pio Bordoni. It is not a secondary school in the traditional sense, but a vocational tertiary institution offering professional diplomas in filmmaking and media production. For a young person arriving in Switzerland after secondary education and wanting to study film as a profession, CISA is the primary dedicated pathway. The school is two years for the initial diploma, with an optional postgraduate specialization year, and graduates work directly in Swiss and European film, television and multimedia production. Unlike liberal-arts universities, CISA trains practitioners, not theorists, so students emerge with hands-on competency and industry contacts.

What a film student arriving in Switzerland needs

A person aged 18+ relocating to Switzerland to study film faces a fragmented media education landscape. Switzerland has film schools scattered across regions, and Locarno has the specific reputation: it hosts the annual Locarno Film Festival and has positioned itself as a centre for European cinema. CISA sits directly in that ecology. For a student with film ambitions and no prior tertiary qualification in the field, CISA offers a career-track diploma recognized across Switzerland and Europe. The school is small and specialized, which means tight cohorts and direct access to faculty, unlike larger universities.

The school is bilingual in Italian and English, with instruction available in both languages. A student arriving from a non-Italian, non-English background would need either prior proficiency or immersion, but English-language instruction is available and indexed on the school's main navigation, suggesting active recruitment of international students. For an English-speaking student with no Italian, starting at CISA requires minimal language barrier.

CISA also operates in Locarno itself, which is significant. Ticino is the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, distinct in culture and industry from the German and French regions. A student choosing to study in Italian-speaking Switzerland enters a different media ecosystem than the German-speaking north. Locarno as a film festival city means ongoing industry connections, visiting professionals and cultural programming tied directly to the school. A film student at CISA attends the festival as part of the school calendar, not as a tourist. This proximity to active cinema culture and professional work is not incidental to the education; it is part of the pedagogy.

The programs and structure

CISA offers a two-year "Biennio" leading to a diploma as "Designer in Design visivo (FILM)" (Designer in Visual Design, Film specialization). Students master all phases of production: cinematography, sound recording, editing, directing, and multimedia work. The curriculum spans image and sound theory (perception, light, sound, semiotics), practical filmmaking tools (cameras, sound recording, audio editing), and genres of audiovisual work (documentary, reportage, broadcast, music video, videoart). Year one focuses on image and sound fundamentals and new media tools. Year two covers the genres of audiovisual work, meaning students specialize in documentary, news, entertainment or artistic video, depending on interests.

After the two-year diploma, students can pursue a one-year postgraduate specialization ("anno di specializzazione") as "Cineasta cinetelevisivo" (Film/Television Professional). This postgrad year offers five specialization tracks: creative production and screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing and post-production, and sound design. Each track deepens a specific production role and brings students to professional-level competency. A student graduating from the initial diploma can immediately work as a junior filmmaker, or extend to postgrad to specialize deeper.

CISA is a member of CILECT (the International Association of Film and Television Schools), which comprises the world's leading film schools. Membership is selective and represents peer recognition from other major film schools globally. CISA emphasizes this affiliation explicitly on its site as validation of its standing within international cinema education. This matters for a student considering relocation: CILECT membership means the diploma carries weight internationally, not just in Switzerland.

The school operates actively on the Locarno Film Festival circuit. Its student films have competed and won prizes at the festival: one piece won the "Pardino d'Argento" (Silver Leopard) in the national competition at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival. This is not symbolic; it means CISA films compete against film school films from across the world and win. Recent masterclasses and screenings on the school's calendar show ongoing connection to practicing professional filmmakers and the broader festival circuit. A student at CISA is embedded in active cinema culture, not studying film in isolation.

What CISA does not clarify

The site does not publish tuition fees or admission requirements. A prospective student must contact the school to learn cost of the two-year program and what qualifications are required for entry (prior film experience, portfolio, language proficiency, etc.). For an international student, these details would be essential to planning.

Likewise, postgraduate job placement data is not published. The school shows student work and wins, but does not state where graduates end up working or in what professions. A student considering the investment in a tertiary film education would want to know career outcomes, and the site does not supply that.

Housing, visas and other practical matters for international students are not addressed on the website. A person relocating from abroad to study at CISA would need to research these independently.

Who fits and who does not

CISA is for people who are certain they want to work in film, television or multimedia production and want structured professional training in Switzerland. A student with film ambitions, secondary-level qualification, and willingness to study in a small, specialized school will thrive. Locarno is a beautiful, walkable city in Ticino, and studying there carries cultural immersion into Italian-speaking Switzerland. A student who has already made films, studied film independently, or worked on sets will find peers with similar experience at CISA. A student drawn to the festival circuit and European film culture will find that world accessible.

A secondary-school student needing a general Swiss gymnasium (traditional academic high school) or a person undecided between career paths should look elsewhere. CISA is vocational, specialized and focused, not a liberal-arts secondary education. A person relocating with no French, German or Italian would face language challenges; English is available but not guaranteed as the medium of all instruction. A student on a tight budget would need to confirm fees upfront, as private tertiary vocational schools in Switzerland typically charge tuition. A student expecting a predictable career path upon graduation should understand that CISA prepares you to work in film; it does not guarantee employment. The industry is competitive, and a diploma is necessary but not sufficient for career success.