The Film Production students of Vancouver Film School demand that 15% of their tuition be returned to the students (who've fully paid and who are paying in increments) as we have been receiving a subpar education during the pandemic. After countless attempts to reason with the VFS administration about their lack of communication and effort to better our experience on and off-campus, we have been left with empty promises and don't believe that our experience at school reflects the price we pay. 

At VFS, domestic students pay close to $40K and international students pay over $50K in a year. VFS consists of 6 terms, each preparing students to face and overcome the challenges surrounding film making. We are now halfway through the year and we are feeling incompetent and not set up to succeed in the film industry. One of many reasons students all over the world choose VFS is for the hands-on experience. We've only partaken in a fraction of the on-campus workshops that are normally offered regularly throughout the year - we are sometimes lucky to have 1 on-campus class in 3 weeks. We are not able to rent any gear or camera equipment, let alone use them fully on campus.

We understand the gravity of COVID-19 and believe that the safety of the admin, staff, and students should be prioritized. VFS has asked students to wash and sanitize hands frequently, wear face masks and face shields at all times and respect social distancing - all the same measurements that are taking place in most schools to slow the spread of COVID-19. Contrary to the efforts to keep us safe and alive, they are admitting a large number of students in January as COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing in Vancouver. There is not enough space or resources on campus to social distance, and now they are assuring another group of students an inadequate education while other students are struggling to stay in school. 

This is a testament that our safety and education are not being prioritized and that VFS would rather take money from students who are already experiencing the housing crisis in Vancouver, during a pandemic.

On top of this, when we have made our frustrations and demands to admin clear, we have been laughed at and have been asked how we would solve these issues, rather than finding solutions on their end. Furthermore, when having an official meeting with the admin about our demands they said: "We are a film school first. We are here to make films, not save lives".

We as students, want to live to make films in an institution that values us, before our money. We demand that a reasonable amount, 15% of tuition be returned to students (who've fully paid and who are paying in increments) studying Film Production during the pandemic.