BFI FILM ACADEMY

Free filmmaking Course for 16-19's

Applications for our 2022-23 cohort will be opening on Monday 15th August at 12pm!

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Watch the video below to find out more about all the ways being part of the BFI Film Academy can benefit you!

The BFI Film Academy is an intensive short course of practical development programme for young people aged 16-19yrs from the British Film Institute, created to train you in how to make films through professional mentoring! 

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2022-23 will be the 11th year Signal Film & Media have delivered this programme & it's open to everyone in Cumbria & North Lancashire not already enrolled at university. We're also the only place who does so outside of a major UK city!

Watch behind the scenes on some of our past productions!

APPLICATIONS OPENING SOON!
WHY APPLY TO THE BFI FILM ACADEMY IN FUTURE?
  • Participants who do the BFI Film Academy find themselves in the roles / careers they want faster
  • It’s designed to work around traditional education routes & offers extra UCAS points & vital experience – great for CV’s
  • You get a realistic experience of being on set as part of a full crew, supported by experienced professionals
  • You get access to so much more opportunities that are ONLY open to BFI Film Academy graduates (specialist courses, professional mentors, workshops, networking opportunities, & more!)
  • You’ll make our next (likely award-winning) short film that will be screened around the world
  • It’s lots of fun!

Alumni Successes

Previous participants from the past decade are now off working in the UK's film and TV industry - Find out more! -

BURSARY SUPPORT AVAILABLE!

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We're particularly keen to encourage applications from ethnically diverse young people!

What participants have said:
“I did not realise the amount of people from the industry we would get to talk to. This course has decided for me what I want to study at uni. It has given me a solid grounding.” 
2017-18 cohort Participant
2017-18 cohort Participant
“I’m still fairly new to this whole gig, so this was an overall incredible experience. With the new people I’ve met, the skills I’ve obtained and just the overall procedure of creating a film has been absolutely joyous to be a part of. I really do hope to do something like this again” 
BFI Participant 2019-20
“I was expecting a film that wouldn't be particularly good, that I would work on for a week. Instead, I got a high production value film that I would work on for months.” 
BFI Participant 2019
“I think it was really good - a really good experience. I hadn’t done much 3D animation before like stop-motion, I’ve only really done a bit of 2D stuff and it was challenging - not because anyone was difficult to work with of course - just different and new.”
BFI Participant 2020
“I wanted to try lots of different roles, so it was really good. Challenging, but good. I hadn’t ever recorded sounds before properly, so I did that and animated some bits, directed sections.. so it was all really interesting to try it all.”
BFI Participant 2020-21
“I found it a really good experience, yeah I loved the shoot - it was really good. On the start of the shoot, once I got there and started filming I kind of got to see how it could all come together. I was really nervous of getting it wrong, but when I got to see the first edit of it coming together it all looks so good, I couldn’t believe it!”
BFI Participant 20-21
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The BFI Film Academy cohort 2021-22 ran on Tuesday evenings & during school/college holiday times with a 2-day, professionally-mentored film shoot during the Christmas Holidays. The premiere screening of the short film ‘Murdered by Cliche’ will take place at the end of March for family & friends. 

CHECK OUT THE FILMS MADE BY PREVIOUS BFI FILM ACADEMY STUDENTS BELOW:

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Programme of 2021-22 Course Dates*:

Tue 12th Oct: Successful applicants notified

Tue 19th Oct: Course starts / Meet the Mentors / Intro to NCFE qualification (Zoom)

Mon 25th Oct: Screenwriting masterclass / Plan your Story (In person)

Tue 26th Oct: Film Analysis & Criticism  (In person)

Tue 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th Nov: (Weekly) Craft & Tech Workshops & Masterclasses with Industry Professionals ( Online & In-person)

Tue 7 & 14th Dec: Pre-production & Rehearsals (Zoom)

Mon 20th + Tue 22nd Dec: Set building, Lighting & shoot prep (optional – in person)

Wed 22nd + Thur 23rd Dec: 2-day Mentored Film Shoot with professional mentors (in-person)

Tue 11th + 18th Jan 2022: Editing Masterclass & NCFE sign off (Zoom)

Feb 2022: Celebration & Screening (Date TBC – in person)

Please be aware course dates are subject to change or extension. There may be optional sessions & 1:1 feedback activities in addition.

DID YOU KNOW:

  • A quarter of all films IN THE WORLD produced in 2018 were made in the UK! Combined with our social media habits, the UK’s booming film industry is rapidly growing and desperately needs new talent!
  • The BFI expects 30,000 new jobs to be created over the next 5-10 years and wants more diverse voices – especially outside of London!
  • There are SO MANY types of jobs available beyond the ones you might guess: from carpenters & electricians to lawyers & promoters!

“Many participants use their BFI Academy experience and references to secure university places and to get jobs in the film industry. Film is one of the big success stories in the British economy at present, and we want to make sure young people from our neck of the woods have a chance to see how it can be a viable and exciting career opportunity.”

– Signal Film & Media 

Co-Director, Kerry Kolbe

PAST HIGHLIGHTS

This project is available thanks to support from:

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