about us
Welcome to Side Academy
Academy of Arts & Innovation
Art | Cinema | fashion | Game | ai & advertising
About Us
Side Academy is a higher education institution based in Verona, specializing in visual and digital arts applied to entertainment, film, fashion, game design, and communication.
Through three-year programs and professional master’s degrees, it trains new generations of artists, designers, and creative technicians capable of working in the fields of CGI, VFX, fashion design, video games, film directing, and visual arts.
Italy’s No. 1 academy according to The Rookies
Due to the academic achievements and awards won by students, Side Academy was recognized in 2025 as:
1st Creative Academy in Italy
1st in Italy for Visual Effects
1st in Italy for Digital Fashion
Among the top 20 creative schools in the world
These awards confirm the Academy’s commitment to training professionals capable of quickly entering the industry, in film production studios, video game companies, digital fashion houses, communication studios, publishing and independent realities.
A Growing Creative Community
For nearly a decade, Side Academy has been cultivating a creative ecosystem that unites students, alumni and professionals in a single network geared toward job placement and artistic development. Many graduates now collaborate with national and international studios and companies.
Our Strengths
Side Academy is internationally recognized as one of the most qualified providers of artistic and technical training for the world of CGI, animation, digital fashion and game development.
We are a school certified by The Rookies, the world’s leading platform dedicated to the best creative academies, and an official SideFX Training Center, recognized for the quality of our teaching on Houdini and for preparing our students to the highest industry standards.
Furthermore, Side Academy is one of the very few schools in the world to use RenderMan—the rendering engine developed by Disney Pixar—as an official training tool.
This unique opportunity allows students to learn the same techniques and workflows used in major Hollywood film studios.
Side in Numbers
300+
Enrolled a.y. 2025 – 2026
4,000sqm
New Campus 2025
Porta Palio, Verona
90%
Placement Rate
-10%
Student Dispersion
20
Average students per class
200+
Workstations with NVIDIA RTX
50+
Workstations with
Cintiq Wacom
15 minutes' walk
from Verona Porta Nuova station
Our Partners and Key Providers
Side Academy collaborates with a network of outstanding brands and institutions that actively contribute to the quality of training, technological support and connection with the professional world.
Thanks to its partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo, the academy offers its students financial aid and career guidance programs, facilitating access to educational programs through financing solutions designed for young talents in the creative sector.
At the same time, the partnership with the Venice International Film Festival strengthens the bond between Side Academy and the world of cinema, offering students the opportunity to present their projects and theses in one of the world’s most prestigious settings.
On the technology front, Side Academy is an official SideFX Training Center for Houdini and one of the few schools in the world to include Pixar’s RenderMan in its curriculum, offering students the opportunity to work with the same tools used in major film production studios.
Partnerships with leading companies such as EIZO, Wacom, HP, The Foundry, and Epic Games ensure that our training environments are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for CGI, VFX, compositing, and real-time development.
Our teaching method
Discover the secret to becoming a true film and video game professional! With our teaching method, you will not only learn the essential fundamentals, but you will have a unique experience simulating the productions that are developed in the production studio. Get ready to turn your passion into a successful career!
With our teaching method , the student will be able to increase skills from scratch and arrive at the creation of a personal portfolio that will distinguish him or her in the working world. We provide a system of Mentorship and teaching, step by step to help the student achieve his professional goals effectively and efficiently.
“I always dreamed of attending a school like Side Academy when I was young. Now I have the opportunity to help hundreds of students realize their dream. Here we don’t just teach, we develop 3D Artist careers from the very first days of training.” SARAH ARDUINI
Experiences designed for Side Academy Students.
The Rookies
The Rookies is the international platform that selects and honors the world’s best creative academies.
Each year, student projects are submitted in the categories of Game of the Year, 3D Animation, VFX, Film of the Year, and Best Rookie of the Year, and are evaluated by a jury composed of supervisors and lead artists from studios such as Weta FX, Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore, and DreamWorks.
This direct exposure to the industry allows students to measure themselves against real professional standards and gain international visibility even while they are still in school.
Venice Film Festival
Thanks to its partnership with the Venice International Film Festival, Side Academy offers students the unique opportunity to present their short films and thesis projects in one of the world’s most prestigious settings.
An opportunity for young talents to connect with film professionals, where creativity meets real-world production.
For students, participating in Venice represents the first step toward the international film scene and an experience of extraordinary artistic and professional value.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
Conceived and organized by Side Academy, La Notte dei Draghi d’Oro is the annual event that celebrates the talent and growth of our students.
The best thesis projects—spanning all years of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs—are honored by category, from Best Character Artist to Best Compositor or 3D Animator, during an evening dedicated to creative excellence.
A moment of recognition and sharing that combines education, entertainment, and a passion for the visual arts, becoming an integral part of every Side student’s journey.
THESIS PROJECTS
The final project serves as a culmination of the educational program and the students’ first real experience with a complete production.
Students develop an original project that integrates all the skills they have acquired—from modeling to simulation, and from rendering to compositing—while working in roles and using methodologies similar to those in the industry.
Divided into groups, each takes on specific artistic and technical roles.
The final work becomes a concrete demonstration of artistic autonomy and professional maturity.
What's new: Discover the new three-year and MAster pathways
6 months - Foundation -
18 months - Studio Production -
FAQ:
Absolutely, all courses start from the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID mode, we allow those who need it to take the course ON-LINE, but to have the opportunity to attend certain labs, workshops or in-person events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. The webcam, on the other hand, is optional.