BFA began offering a two-year course in film and television production management in September 1955.

Although the first class only graduated 28 students, the popularity of the course grew, and a Department of Management was formally established in 1987.

In 1966, the Cultural Revolution brought hardships for schools throughout the People's Republic of China.

In 1989, the International School of the Academy was set up, along with the Information Research Center in October 1999.

The academy offers associate, bachelor, and master's degrees in many areas of film.

BFA's older famous graduates mostly consist of fourth-generation, fifth-generation, and sixth-generation directors.

The three best-known fifth-generation directors all graduated from BFA (Tian Zhuangzhuang, Chen Kaige, and Zhang Yimou).

Other famous Chinese filmmakers include Xie Tian, Chen Qiang, Wu Yigong, Huang Shuqin, Wu Tianming, Xie Fei, Hu Mei, Zheng Dongtian, Ni Zhen, Ding Yinmeng, Li Qiankuan, Cao Cuifen, Huang Jianxin, and Wei Lian.

Finally, notable sixth-generation directors include Jia Zhangke, Wang Xiaoshuai, and Zhang Yuan.

Contemporary Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei studied animation at BFA.