The 15 Best Film Industry Internships in the US
2025 Guide
Almost anything can be justified as a style of filmmaking if it works.
-Doug Liman
The 15 Best Film Industry Internships in the US - 2025 Guide
Major film studios behind blockbusters like Harry Potter, Titanic, and Avatar now offer exciting summer internships and film production internships in the entertainment industry. These legendary companies have transformed entertainment for over a century. Paramount Pictures, a pioneer in the industry, traces its roots back to 1912.
Film production, editing, and sound design internships are a great way to get hands-on experience for aspiring professionals. Most film internships begin unpaid but provide significant networking opportunities and valuable resume experience. International students with F1 visas can work part-time during semesters and full-time during summer breaks, making these opportunities more available than before.
Your filmmaking experience begins with diverse options from web series to feature films, TV shows to news networks. We have researched and compiled the 15 best film industry internships that could launch your entertainment career in 2025 (and even more here!), including opportunities for marketing interns, production interns, and television interns.
Warner Bros. Discovery has one of the best film production internships in entertainment. Students get hands-on experience in content creation, production, and development through work in different departments.
Program Overview and Departments
The program lasts 11 weeks with two options to start: June 3rd – August 16th or June 10th – August 23rd. Interns put in 35-40 hours each week in a hybrid setting. They work in departments of all types including creative development, production, marketing, and technology. The program also gives access to executive speaker sessions and networking events.
Application Requirements
Students need to meet these requirements to join the Warner Bros. Discovery internships program:
Be a rising junior or senior (18 years or older)
Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
Be enrolled full-time in a US accredited college/university
Have strong verbal and written communication skills
Compensation and Benefits
Undergraduate interns earn $19.00 per hour while graduate-level interns get $25.00 per hour at Warner Bros. Discovery. The program also helps interns grow professionally through mentorship from industry veterans and special events.
Success Stories from Past Interns
Interns see major professional growth through their hands-on projects. A former marketing intern in corporate communications wrote copy for posts, managed events, and developed content ideas for WBD’s internal social media. The program is a chance to follow a four-year internship track where students can explore different departments each summer to build detailed industry knowledge.
Project-based assignments help interns prepare for future roles in entertainment. They work on real productions and development projects with guidance from experienced professionals.
“Innovation requires lots of experiments.” — Reed Hastings, Co-founder and CEO of Netflix
Netflix’s Creative Innovation team is shaping storytelling’s future through innovative technology. Netflix internships offer unique opportunities for aspiring filmmakers and tech enthusiasts.
Program Structure
The internship lasts at least 10 weeks and you can start in June. You’ll work with world-class experts in program management, data analysis, and filmmaking tools. The program pairs interns with projects that match their interests and skills to create individual-specific experiences similar to full-time roles.
Creative Development Opportunities
Netflix lets you work on trailblazing projects with generative AI, live tools, and transmedia technologies. You’ll find unique ways to use emerging technologies that boost creativity and speed up production. This gives you direct experience with professional filmmaking tools used in actual productions.
Netflix Culture Experience
Excellence thrives in Netflix’s culture of inclusion and breakthroughs. You’ll see:
Selfless collaboration and open feedback
Creative problem-solving opportunities
Rapid learning environment
Emphasis on individual accountability
Application Process
Recruiting happens from late summer through March. The interview process has:
A take-home assessment
Two to three rounds of interviews that evaluate technical and behavioral skills
Role-specific evaluations
The program pays competitively, with intern salaries ranging from $20.00 to $40.00 per hour. Netflix bases compensation on market rates for similar roles at other companies.
Amazon MGM Studios, the creators of award-winning shows like Rings of Power and Daisy Jones and The Six, has exciting internship opportunities at their Culver City location. The Amazon MGM Studios internships program offers a variety of roles for aspiring filmmakers.
Available Positions
The studio’s departments welcome interns in several key areas:
Creative Development for Animation and Original Movies
Marketing and Creative Advertising
Music Production for TV and Film
Production Management
Casting Operations
Project Based Learning
Interns work full-time from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Each role has a final project that shows what interns learned during their time there. Creative teams let interns develop marketing campaigns and assets for Amazon Original series and movies. Students learn about script coverage, audience insights, and campaign development hands-on.
Mentorship Program
Every intern gets a dedicated mentor who guides them through the experience. They work together with executives at the Culver City offices. Guest speakers and networking events help interns build professional connections. Students learn about film production from start to finish.
The program builds mutually beneficial alliances with the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program to create opportunities for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions. Students must be enrolled in relevant degree programs and commit to a 12-week internship.
110 years old, Paramount Pictures runs a prestigious Page Program that has become a gateway to the entertainment business. This Paramount Pictures internship program is different from regular film industry internships because it focuses on hands-on studio operations experience.
Program Details
You’ll become a brand ambassador for Paramount Pictures, with responsibilities that go beyond typical film internships. Your role involves managing studio audiences and leading professional tours. You’ll work 6-hour shifts with 80% of time spent actively engaging with the studio environment. The schedule is flexible at 2-4 days per week, but you need to stay fully available.
Networking Opportunities
The program lets you attend exclusive industry events and meet entertainment professionals. You’ll get:
Speaker sessions with industry leaders
Informal mentorship opportunities
Experience in marketing, production, and distribution departments
Career Advancement Paths
The program can be challenging, but the results speak for themselves – more than 60% of graduates land full-time positions within the Paramount family. Many graduates move into entertainment industry roles of all types and learn about film production and studio operations. Special assignments become available after six months to expand your experience and responsibilities.
This program stands out from other film production internships by giving you complete exposure to studio operations. The position pays $20.00 per hour and is a great way to get knowledge about the entertainment industry’s business side while building vital professional connections.
Universal Studios Production Internship program excels at giving hands-on film industry training. Students get practical experience and mentorship that builds a complete understanding of entertainment production.
Department Rotations
Students rotate through departments like production design, entertainment operations, and creative development. They work on actual projects that make a real difference in their fields. Teams from different disciplines work together to blend design, electronics, mechanics, and ergonomics in their daily tasks.
Skills Development
Both technical and creative skills grow during the program. Your work includes:
Creating sketches and digital renderings for design visualization
Developing 3D models using industry-standard CAD software
Conducting user research to inform design decisions
Preparing design documentation for leadership presentations
The internship pays well, with hourly rates from $18 to $25 based on experience and qualifications. Industry leaders guide you through your journey.
Future Employment Prospects
Universal Studios likes to promote from within, which creates promising career paths for successful interns. The program opens doors to full-time positions and prepares you for roles throughout NBCUniversal’s big portfolio. You learn about potential career paths in the entertainment industry through networking and exposure to different business segments.
Applications open 3-4 months before each semester’s start date. This program helps you build real-life skills and valuable industry connections that could shape your future in film production.
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Disney’s Talent Development program has carried forward Walt Disney’s ‘Nine Old Men’ legacy since 1971. This program is a chance to shape future storytellers through film industry internships.
Program Components
Students join a 12-week paid summer experience that blends artistry with technology behind famous films. They focus on three core areas – Production, Technology, and Studio departments. Students get practical experience in creating timeless stories. Each student receives assignments that line up with their career goals, which makes the experience tailored to personal growth.
Learning Opportunities
Students learn specialized skills and see filmmaking from many angles through close mentorship. The program includes:
Direct mentorship from industry veterans
Cross-departmental exposure through meet-and-greets
Up-to-the-minute production pipeline experience
Hands-on project assignments
Disney Culture Integration
The program builds a shared community where different points of view flourish. In spite of that, nurturing next-generation talent through exploration and breakthroughs remains the core focus. The program shows Disney’s steadfast dedication to enabling future storytellers through the Disney Future Storytellers initiative. This initiative removes barriers and expands access to careers in media and entertainment.
Students get competitive pay and build valuable industry connections. They work among professionals who created beloved films like Frozen 2, Moana, and Zootopia. This hands-on experience goes beyond traditional learning.
Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Emerging Talent Programs provide seasonal paid assignments at locations worldwide, including opportunities in Los Angeles and New York.
Available Roles
The program spans a variety of departments with positions in:
Marketing and Digital Media
Sales Planning & Operations
Privacy Technology
Distribution Research
Brand Development
Computer Vision/Machine Learning
Project Involvement
Students work between 10-29 hours weekly during spring and fall sessions. Summer positions need a 40-hour weekly commitment. You’ll work on ground projects that range from script coverage to detailed program research. These assignments help develop distinct television programming and support brand strategy initiatives.
Professional Development
Students build their skills through multiple channels. The program helps you master simple office software like Microsoft Office Suite and various internet platforms. Networking becomes easier through educational sessions and social events.
Job listings appear 1-4 months before start dates. Successful candidates show great organizational skills and maintain professionalism in ever-changing environments. Interns work among talented professionals who create global entertainment content. With competitive compensation, this program is a great chance for aspiring film industry professionals.
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Lionsgate’s Film Internship Program discovers and brings in talent from different backgrounds to provide educational experiences in the entertainment industry. The program runs from June 10th to August 15th, 2025 and puts interns at the vanguard of film production and development.
Program Structure
This 10-week program follows a hybrid schedule. Interns work in the office four days a week and remotely on Fridays. The program requires 36 hours of work weekly. Interns learn about marketing, production, development, and distribution. They also join speaker series and professional development workshops to enhance their experience.
Hands-on Experience
The program focuses on learning through real-life projects. Interns help with:
Script evaluation and coverage writing
Project development and feedback
Industry trend analysis
Department-specific administrative tasks
Entertainment news monitoring
Career Growth and Opportunities
The program’s well-laid-out mentorship connects interns with experienced leaders who share career wisdom beyond the internship. Many interns move into full-time entry-level positions within the company. Interns cooperate with industry professionals on key projects and develop skills they need to succeed in the entertainment business.
Students must be actively enrolled in an accredited college or university to join the program. The program welcomes both undergraduate and graduate students who are rising juniors or have graduated within six months of the internship’s start date.
A24, the studio behind groundbreaking films like Everything Everywhere All at Once and Moonlight, gives students a chance to learn filmmaking through their internship program.
Independent Film Experience
The internship program at A24 puts its focus on arthouse and multiplatform films. Interns work in acquisition, distribution, and marketing departments to learn about independent film releases. The program now runs on a hybrid model between their New York and Los Angeles offices.
Creative Input Opportunities
Students can take part-time positions and work up to 24 hours each week. The program expects interns to:
Write coverage on submitted materials (2-3 reports daily)
Keep project talent lists and grids updated
Help manage social media
Create GIFs and edit content for marketing campaigns
Pitch original social concepts
Your outreach strategies need to be detailed to work well. Add interactive websites with exclusive content, run targeted social media campaigns, and set up community screenings. The JustFilms initiative shows how proper creative, financial, and professional support helps documentaries reach more people. Collaborating with impact media partners and community partners can amplify your documentary’s message and lead to real-world change.
Industry Exposure
Interns earn $17.50 per hour and work among professionals who created award-winning shows like Beef and Euphoria. The program helps develop practical skills and needs interns to know Adobe Suite and social media platforms well. Interns cooperate with talented professionals in film production of all types and learn about independent filmmaking.
HBO Max’s Content Development Internship helps aspiring filmmakers become pioneers in streaming. Undergraduate interns earn $19.00 per hour while working in the Los Angeles area. The program combines office work with flexible schedules.
Program Overview
The internship helps students learn about network award strategy and execution. Interns work with HBO and Max original content within Warner Bros. Discovery. They help with Emmy Awards campaigns and track competitive landscape grids. Students learn to become skilled at planning, organizing, and communicating through hands-on experience.
Content Creation Experience
Students work on creative projects that range from TikTok concepts to marketing strategies. The program gives interns real responsibilities such as:
Creating and designing TikTok landscape decks
Developing community engagement strategies
Managing department calendars
Supporting “For Your Consideration” events
Networking Possibilities
Warner Bros. Discovery’s speaker series and roundtable discussions are a great way to get industry connections. Interns meet industry veterans and build lasting professional relationships. Many past interns have built strong connections with executives and joined exclusive WarnerMedia speaker series. Working with design managers and copywriters helps interns develop team collaboration skills.
DreamWorks Animation welcomes creative minds to their 10-week paid internship program that gives you hands-on experience in both TV and Feature animated productions.
Animation Focus Areas
The program covers several creative departments:
Business Affairs/Legal
CFX/FX Production
Current/Preschool Series
Development
Feature/TV Animation
Software Engineering
Story Development
Visual Development
Technical Skills Development
Interns learn industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Cloud and Google Apps throughout the program. You’ll work on actual productions and learn from award-winning artists. The program pays $17.00 per hour, and annual salaries can reach $54,000.
Portfolio Building
DreamWorks welcomes fresh ideas and non-traditional paths to success. Visual development roles need portfolios that show strong design foundations in perspective, composition, painting, and color theory. The program helps you build an impressive portfolio through executive speaker series, professional development workshops, artistic classes, and practice art tests.
Applications close on March 8th, with spots open in spring, summer, and fall sessions. You must be enrolled in a degree program or be a recent graduate with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Work arrangements can be remote, on-site, or hybrid, based on your department’s needs.
Focus Features, a division of NBCUniversal, has reshaped the scene of independent cinema with its unique internship program. The studio challenges mainstream narratives and gives students real experience in specialty film production and distribution.
Independent Film Production
The program teaches script coverage and production development. Interns evaluate filming locations, tax rebates, and crew availability. You’ll check production schedules, call sheets, and wrap reports while keeping filmmaker databases current. The studio’s executives create an open environment that promotes real passion for specialty films.
Marketing Experience
The marketing intern role covers brand development on multiple platforms. Your tasks include:
Managing social activations across Focus Features channels
Creating engaging content for individual film titles
Developing social editorial calendars
Providing live social coverage at events
Distribution Knowledge
You’ll learn about the film distribution lifecycle. The program helps you become skilled at pre-buying processes, running numbers, and deal negotiations. This internship runs from June to August 2025 and needs 40 hours per week in Universal City. You’ll work together with teams in 20 countries to distribute independent films globally.
The program champions diverse stories and unique voices that prepare you for specialty film distribution. Real projects and mentorship help you build practical skills needed for success in independent cinema.
Blumhouse Productions, known for its revolutionary micro-budget horror films, helps you start your filmmaking career with paid internships focused on genre storytelling.
Horror Genre Specialization
The studio that created Paranormal Activity and The Purge franchises gives an explanation of horror film production methods. The program focuses on horror and thriller genres. Interns learn about script coverage, development, and production for both TV and film projects. Running from June 2nd to August 15th, 2025, the program lets you experience the studio’s signature style of creating high-quality films on small budgets.
Production Experience
Interns make $18.00 per hour and work 20 hours weekly. The work includes:
Research for locations and managing crew availability databases
Support for set operations and film shoots
Production office organization in major hubs
Script coverage and review of completed film submissions
Industry Connections
TV and film executives, directors, and talent meet with interns weekly. The program includes company events, gatherings, and exclusive screenings in Los Angeles. Many interns create original short films with guidance from Blumhouse’s creative team and submit their work to the company’s summer film festival. Each intern reviews more than 30 potential Blumhouse titles. These connections often lead to jobs after graduation.
The Pixar Undergraduate Program (PUP) helps students become technical artists through an intensive 12-week classroom-based course led by experienced Technical Directors.
Animation Opportunities
Students tuck into different technical parts of the animation pipeline during the program. They work on their own projects in modeling, set dressing, shading, characters, layout, lighting, and effects. We designed this program for students who love combining art with technology. They get hands-on practice with Pixar’s own software and assets.
Technical Learning
Pixar’s Technical Directors work as software tool developers and digital sculptors. Students learn through:
Real projects with mentor guidance
Industry-standard animation tools
Technical direction training
Team efforts with art and tech groups
Creative Development
Students welcome new ideas through group projects and personal exploration. They work among industry professionals and bring fresh views to current projects. Pixar looks for candidates with strong presentation skills, teaching background, and knowing how to create groundbreaking technical solutions. Direct mentorship and hands-on training are a great way to get animation industry experience.
New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, provides film production internships in multiple departments.
Program Structure
The program runs for 10 weeks during summer between June and August. Interns work 40 hours weekly in a hybrid format and receive company-issued computers to work remotely. They participate in executive speaker sessions and professional development workshops to boost their industry knowledge.
Production Experience
The internship gives hands-on experience in film production. The core responsibilities include:
Script analysis and feedback for executives
Research for projects under development
Marketing and publicity support
Production-related administrative tasks
Legal paperwork organization
Career Development
The program creates networking opportunities with industry professionals. Interns work in development offices to learn about casting processes and provide feedback on priority projects. Strong organizational skills, work ethic, and genuine interest in film development are essential for candidates. Positions are available in creative development, acquisitions, marketing, and international distribution.
Interns receive competitive compensation that prepares them for future roles in production, development, and marketing. Candidates must be enrolled in a college degree program during the internship. The program runs from multiple locations and provides opportunities in both creative and business aspects of filmmaking.
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Ready to Intern?
These top film industry internships go beyond just building your resume. Major studios like Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, and Disney pay competitive wages between $17 to $40 per hour. This makes these opportunities both educational and financially rewarding.
The programs give you direct experience through real projects. You’ll get mentorship from industry veterans and access to exclusive networking events. Warner Bros. Discovery interns create content directly. Netflix interns help shape storytelling’s future with advanced technology. Disney’s program continues Walt’s legacy by developing creative talent. Universal Studios gives interns a unique experience by rotating them through different departments.
Many interns launch successful entertainment careers through these programs. Several have landed full-time positions. Paramount’s Page Program shows impressive results with 60% of interns moving into permanent roles. You should note that application deadlines come 3-4 months before start dates. This means you need to prepare your materials early.
Your specific interests and career goals will help you pick the right internship. You might love independent films at Focus Features, horror genres at Blumhouse, or animation at Pixar. These programs give you specialized paths into the entertainment industry. Whether you’re interested in Los Angeles internships, New York internships, or opportunities in other major film hubs, there’s a program for you. From marketing intern positions to production intern roles, and even opportunities for MBA interns, the film industry offers a wide range of experiences.
Your dream career in film production starts with sending that application today. Whether you’re looking for summer internships, year-round opportunities, or specific roles like casting intern or television intern, these top film industry internships provide the perfect launchpad for your career in entertainment.
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