The Berkeley Digital Film Institute is the newest addition in San Francisco Bay Area film schools. The program is an intense, 16-month, total immersion with emphasis on Producing and Directing for Motion Pictures, Television, Commercials and Music Videos. The institute was founded in early 2007 by Patrick Kriwanek, Dean of Education. Kriwanek, who was the head of the Academy of Art's Motion Picture division was instrumental in growing the program from 79 to 900 students before leaving in 1999. He also produced and directed pieces for Fox Television, MTV and corporations including Apple Inc. and Intel. He worked closely with Saul Zaentz's partners, scoring a long term lease in the building, an option to renew, and some $1 million in equipment to start the school. The facility is currently located in the Saul Zaentz Media Center in Berkeley, CA.
The faculty, of major industry veterans, have a combined win of 10 Academy Awards and 28 national Clios.
Some former students of Kriwanek have worked for or currently work for LucasFilm, Pixar, DreamWorks, and many other prestigious media companies. They have also directed music videos for U2, Green Day, Kanye West, Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Staind.