The Netherlands Film and Television Academy (NFTA) was founded in 1958. The academy is the only recognised institute in the Netherlands that offers training to prepare for the work in the various crew disciplines. The NFTA differs from other audiovisual courses in that it trains specialists to make productions in a team. Specialisation is possible in fiction directing, documentary directing, screen writing, editing, producing, sounddesign, cinematography, production design, and interactive multimedia/visual effects.

The NFTA aims at artistic film, television and new media production of a high professional standard. The primary aim of the course is to enable students to develop their creative and technical qualities to the full. By bringing students into contact with various different kinds of audiovisual productions, the NFTA increases their interest in the diverse possibilities and developments that professional practice has to offer. The NFTA maintains intensive contact (in many kinds of ways) with that professional practice, both in the Netherlands and internationally. Former students regularly return to the academy to give lessons or workshops as guest tutors and to pass on their knowledge and experience to new generations of film and television professionals.