OCCC film school lands MovieMaker honor for fifth straight year

Oklahoma City Community College has again been named one of MovieMaker magazine’s 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada, marking its fifth consecutive year on the list. The recognition spotlights OCCC’s digital cinema program, student work on major productions and Oklahoma’s growing film pipeline.

Why it matters: - OCCC’s repeated appearance on MovieMaker’s best-film-schools list signals sustained industry recognition for a community college program. - The honor also underscores the role OCCC students are playing in Oklahoma’s film economy, from training to on-set production work.

What happened: - Oklahoma City Community College was named one of MovieMaker magazine’s 30 Best Film Schools in the U.S. and Canada for the fifth consecutive year. - MovieMaker released its 2026 list on Aug. 24. - OCCC President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones said the recognition reflects the legacy of Gray Frederickson, the work of professors Greg Mellott and Sean Lynch, and OCCC’s support for the film industry in Oklahoma.

The details: - OCCC’s Gray Frederickson Department of Digital Cinema offers training with industry-expert instructors, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. - OCCC students have worked on major film and television productions including "Twisters," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Tulsa King," "Reservation Dogs," and "The Lowdown." - Students have also contributed to more than 30 other low- and medium-budget films. - OCCC students are currently working on "Copperhead," a movie starring Miles Teller and directed by Tulsa native John Swab. - "Copperhead" is scheduled to film in Oklahoma from Aug. 17 to Oct. 9. - Dr. Liz Largent, senior vice president for academic affairs at OCCC, said students are making an impact on film projects across Oklahoma, the U.S. and internationally. - OCCC said more information about the Gray Frederickson Digital Cinema Department and the Digital Cinema Production program is available at the department website.

Between the lines: - The recognition suggests OCCC has built a pipeline that connects classroom training with real production credits. - The film school’s visibility likely benefits from Oklahoma’s broader push to attract film and television projects.

What's next: - OCCC students will continue working on "Copperhead" through its Oklahoma production window. - The college will keep promoting its Digital Cinema Production program as it seeks to extend its five-year streak on MovieMaker’s list.

The bottom line: - OCCC’s film school has turned repeat national recognition into proof that a community college program can feed directly into professional film work.