Best Film Schools in Latin America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Latin America ranked based on their research performance in Cinematography. A graph of 4.77K citations received by 5.19K academic papers made by 37 universities in Latin America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#1 in Brazil

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

2. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Cinematography

#2 in Brazil

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 67,329
Founded: 1920

3. State University of Campinas

Brazil | Campinas

For Cinematography

#3 in Brazil

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1966

4. Fluminense Federal University

Brazil | Niteroi

For Cinematography

#4 in Brazil

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

5. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Cinematography

#5 in Brazil

#34 in the World

Founded: 1934

6. Federal University of Minas Gerais

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

For Cinematography

#6 in Brazil

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 45,038
Founded: 1927

7. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Cinematography

#7 in Brazil

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1941

8. Sao Paulo State University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#8 in Brazil

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1976

9. University of Brasilia

Brazil | Brasilia

For Cinematography

#9 in Brazil

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1962

10. Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil | Porto Alegre

For Cinematography

#10 in Brazil

#100 in the World

Founded: 1948

11. University of Buenos Aires

Argentina | Buenos Aires

For Cinematography

#1 in Argentina

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 262,932
Founded: 1821

12. Nove de Julho University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#11 in Brazil

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1972

13. Federal University of Santa Catarina

Brazil | Florianopolis

For Cinematography

#12 in Brazil

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1960

14. Anhembi Morumbi University

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#13 in Brazil

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1972

15. University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Cinematography

#14 in Brazil

#148 in the World

Founded: 1950

16. Federal University of Sao Carlos

Brazil | Sao Carlos

For Cinematography

#15 in Brazil

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Founded: 1968

17. Federal University of Pernambuco

Brazil | Recife

For Cinematography

#16 in Brazil

#156 in the World

Founded: 1946

18. Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

For Cinematography

#17 in Brazil

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1958

19. Federal University of Paraiba

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

For Cinematography

#18 in Brazil

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1955

20. Federal University of Bahia

Brazil | Salvador

For Cinematography

#19 in Brazil

#195 in the World

Founded: 1946

21. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil | Seropedica

For Cinematography

#20 in Brazil

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1910

22. Federal University of Juiz de Fora

Brazil | Juiz de Fora

For Cinematography

#21 in Brazil

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1960

23. Federal University of Goias

Brazil | Goiania

For Cinematography

#22 in Brazil

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1960

24. Parana State University

Brazil | Paranavai

For Cinematography

#23 in Brazil

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2013

25. Federal University of Mato Grosso

Brazil | Cuiaba

For Cinematography

#24 in Brazil

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1970

26. Federal University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#25 in Brazil

#213 in the World

Founded: 1933

27. Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Cinematography

#26 in Brazil

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1946

28. Rio de Janeiro State Federal University

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

For Cinematography

#27 in Brazil

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1969

29. Federal University of Santa Maria

Brazil | Santa Maria

For Cinematography

#28 in Brazil

#267 in the World

Founded: 1960

30. Federal University of Espirito Santo

Brazil | Vitoria

For Cinematography

#29 in Brazil

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 23,744
Founded: 1954

31. Federal University of Parana

Brazil | Curitiba

For Cinematography

#30 in Brazil

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1912

32. Federal University of Ceara

Brazil | Fortaleza

For Cinematography

#31 in Brazil

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1954

33. Federal University of Sergipe

Brazil | Sao Cristovao

For Cinematography

#32 in Brazil

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1963

34. Federal University of Uberlandia

Brazil | Uberlandia

For Cinematography

#33 in Brazil

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 25,494
Founded: 1969

35. State University of Maringa

Brazil | Maringa

For Cinematography

#34 in Brazil

#333 in the World

Founded: 1970

36. University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley

Brazil | Sao Leopoldo

For Cinematography

#35 in Brazil

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 23,988
Founded: 1969

37. State University of Londrina

Brazil | Londrina

For Cinematography

#36 in Brazil

#349 in the World

Founded: 1970