Film Academy

BFI Film Academy – for young aspiring filmmakers


The BFI Film Academy aims to help train and inspire the next generation of British filmmakers, supporting talented and committed young people aged 16-19 to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to help make a career in film a reality. The BFI Film Academy offers training for every film industry role, from writing and directing through to production, sound design, editing and camera, and provides learning around film history and cinematic storytelling to inspire an appreciation of film culture in the round.

The ncfe or Arts Award accredited programme course runs from October 2018– December 2018 including a filmmaking project over the weekends in November and ends with a premiere screening at Hyde Park Picture House.

Participants will get to work alongside professional directors, writers, producers from films such as Wedding Belles, 4 Lions and We Are Poets and hear from others involved in TV shows such as Humans, Outlander, Game of Thrones and Emmerdale.

The most committed participants will be recommended to attend the residential BFI Talent Campus at the National Film & Television School in 2018/19 offering an opportunity to work with top filmmakers such as Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s end, etc.) to further develop their skills and progress their career.

Watch the video below for an overview of the BFI Film Academy. You’ll find all you need to know about the application process here entries are now open for 2018.

BFI Film Acdemy Recruitment film 2017.mp4

The BFI Film Academy was a life-changing experience; I learned so much about filmmaking, from scriptwriting to exhibition as well as making a film that I am incredibly proud of. I made so many useful contacts and met an entire team of like minded people, some of whom I am already working with on my first feature film. Anyone who is serious about working in the film industry should sign up to academy immediately!

Gage, 2014 BFI Film Academy participant

To view the short films produced nationally as part of the BFI Film Academy programme check out this YouTube playlist.

To see the short films produced by the BFI Film Academy, Leeds click on the Showcase link or head over to our YouTube channel to see a sample of work by some of our alumni.