Applying to deliver BFI Film Academy Training Courses

Contents 

1. About this fund
2. Check if you’re eligible
3. What you can use funding for
4. What your project needs to achieve
5. How to apply
6. What happens after you apply
7. Getting a decision
8. Conditions of funding
9. Appendix – BFI Film Academy core educational outcomes

1. About this fund  

This fund is for screen and education organisations who want to deliver training course activity to young people aged 18 to 22, who are not in full-time education, providing them with an in-depth introduction to a specific occupational field. Our aim is to find talent with a passion for the screen industries across the UK and to ensure that the opportunity to work in the screen industries is available to all. Training courses will help participants prepare for work in the screen industries through undertaking basic training linked to a department or industry sub-sector.  

You can apply for up to £87,900 per year to deliver a course in one of the following specialisms:

• costume
• camera and lighting operation
• sound and sound recording
• set decoration and props
• editing and post-production
• VFX and new technologies
• production management (including PAs, location assistants, ADs and accountants)
• hair, make-up and prosthetics
• film programming, audience development and distribution
• film curation and archiving
• animation
• sustainability and locations 

We will fund a single course per specialism, per year (for three years), to be delivered across the UK. Although the courses will be delivered in a specific location, participants should be recruited from across the UK and each delivery partner should strive to have a national cohort. 

One organisation may apply to deliver multiple courses.

Fund aims and priorities   

BFI Film Academy training courses need to equip young people with new skills, knowledge and work to add to their portfolios, showcasing their passion and talent in their chosen area.  

All training courses will need to meet the following outcomes of the BFI National Lottery Strategy:  

• children and young people are empowered to develop their own relationships with a wider range of screen culture, including through education
• more people understand how to express their creativity through stories on screen, including children and young people
• creative talent is supported and nurtured, as they emerge and throughout their careers
• equitable and more visible routes into the sector for people of all ages
• people from under-represented groups across the UK can access the support they need to develop their careers and skills 

You will also need to deliver against our three principles for National Lottery funding: equity, diversity and inclusion; UK-wide; and environmental sustainability. 

2. Check if you’re eligible 

Your organisation 

Your organisation must be a legally constituted organisation centrally managed in the UK. This includes: 

• limited liability company or partnership registered at Companies House
• community interest company registered at Companies House
• combined or local authority or statutory body
• charity or trust registered with the Charity Commission (including UK universities and colleges)

In addition, your organisation must: 

• be an organisation that has experience in delivering specialist industry skills training
• have direct links to film industry experts
• have experience and expertise in screen skills development and training for 18 to 22 years old
• have experience delivering careers advice and guidance for young people 18 to 22 years old
• have experience and expertise in recruiting and working with participants from a diverse range of backgrounds
• have the infrastructure and human resource capacity to host the proposed course
• have staff that have been Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checked and able to prove this has been carried out or renewed in the last two years
• have a current and compliant safeguarding policy
• operate on a not-for-profit basis or be able to deliver this activity on a not-for-profit basis 

Appointed course deliverers will be responsible for the safety and welfare of all participants and will have a duty of care for all taking part irrespective of age. When filming any project activity, the duty of care would start by ensuring the activity is properly risk assessed and that the activity is managed in a safe manner throughout. This also applies to the delivery of the end of course networking and showcasing event, where relevant.  

Your course participants

We are looking for organisations to provide in-depth training courses in a residential setting for 18- to 22-year-olds, over a minimum of seven days.

All courses must be for young people who are not in full time education; people in full time education are not eligible to take part.  Your course will need to encourage employability through content relevant to those who have the potential to imminently work in the industry, providing young people with an insight into alternative routes to work outside of mainstream Further and Higher Education options.   

Leverhulme bursary participants

Three places on the course must be ringfenced for Leverhulme bursary recipients. These participants must be:

• 18 years old on the first day of the course
• from a lower socio-economic background (currently in receipt of Universal Credit, free school meals or any other support detailed in the 25/26 bursary guidance)

They’ll have the opportunity to ‘opt-in’ to apply for a Leverhulme funded place via the application form. This award comes with a larger travel bursary to support those who may otherwise be unable to attend.   

3. What you can use funding for 

You can apply for up to:

• £263,700 (£87,900 per year) for courses of up to 30 participants
• £220,350 (£73,450 per year) for courses of up to 25 participants

We’ve provided details of the maximum number of participants per course. 

What the fund covers

We will fund one course, per subject matter, per year for three years. You can apply to deliver more than one course. Courses can take place from 1 April 2026 and delivery of the final year should be completed by 31 March 2029. 

You may choose to deliver the course to fewer than the maximum number of participants because of location, reach, or capacity. If this is the case, your budget should be scaled to reflect the number of participants, or a case should be made for a higher budget per participant. 

You will need to give participants a broad understanding of a dedicated occupational area, including the relevant technical skills. This means providing masterclasses with industry speakers, practical workshops, and other relevant training such as set and location visits, basic set etiquette (for production-related occupations) and knowledge sharing and insights from those currently working in the relevant occupational field. Participants should gain a broad understanding of the types of organisations and productions within which each type of work takes place. 

All courses need to have a broad focus on areas such as budgeting and project management and feature a focus on our cross-cutting principles, to ensure transferable skills are also gained. 

Subject areas and participants 

The subject areas for courses are: 

• costume – up to 25 participants
• camera and lighting operation – up to 30 participants
• sound and sound recording – up to 30 participants
• set decoration and props – up to 30 participants
• editing and post-production – up to 30 participants
• VFX and new technologies – up to 30 participants
• production management (including PAs, location assistants, ADs and accountants)  – up to 30 participants
• hair, make-up and prosthetics – up to 25 participants
• film programming, audience development and distribution – up to 30 participants
• film curation and archiving – up to 30 participants
• animation – up to 30 participants
• sustainability and locations – up to 25 participants

You’ll need to tell the BFI if any participants drop-out of the course. You should have a reserve list of participants, and if possible, replace the individual with another suitable applicant.   

When the course is finished

You’ll need to refer participants back to the BFI Film Academy Hubs where they can take part in opportunities such as masterclasses, workshops, shadowing on local BFI NETWORK productions and gain access to other resources.

Delivery format  

We encourage organisations to deliver their course in person with additional online provision.  

Deliverables 

In your application you will need to identify the specific activity you will deliver (your ‘deliverables’) using the funding. Your deliverables should be based on the course requirements outlined above and include: 

• a minimum of 7 days of in-person activity
• number of online training sessions (where relevant)
• number of training hours undertaken per participant
• number of industry speakers participants will interact with
• number of skill development sessions participants will take part in

You will also be required to attend a Partners’ Day hosted by the BFI, which will include “train the trainer” sessions. This will take place before course delivery starts and should be used to help all BFI Film Academy course delivery partners get to know each other, share best practice, and set shared ambitions for delivery.

Eligible costs

You can use this funding for costs such as:

• activities needed to deliver your training course
• bursaries for course participants
• mentoring for course participants
• staff directly involved in course delivery
• costs relating to outreach of your course to participants
• contribution to overheads related to the activity (at a reasonable level)

All costs should be at a level to maximise the public benefit and value for money of the fund.  

Costs we cannot support 

Funds should not substitute or replace existing funding or income that would otherwise be available, or to fund similar activity that can start without an award. DCMS and BFI National Lottery funds are only awarded to applicants that demonstrate need and a clear public benefit from the activity. This is project-based, time-limited funding, and you should not expect ongoing support beyond the term of any awards made.    

Ineligible costs include: 

• core costs for day to day running of your organisation not associated with the activity
• activity that is already specifically supported by another external source of funding
• staffing costs which are covered by other sources of funding
• costs relating to an extension of ongoing work
• capital expenditure
• activity focused on other art-forms such as literature, dance on film, theatre, poetry film, opera or artists’ moving image
• cost incurred prior to an offer of funding from BFI
• promotional or other materials (information stands, printed brochures) which does not support environmental sustainability  

This list is not exhaustive, and we may tell you that other types of activity within your application cannot be supported by a BFI award or ask that you amend specific activities and associated budget allocations. 

Due to restrictions on funding, no part of this grant can be allocated to marketing or communication costs. However, recruitment and outreach costs are acceptable, particularly where it enables you to reach a more diverse group of young people. 

If you’re registered for VAT

Your figures should not include VAT that you can claim back. If you’re not registered for VAT, or you’re registered for VAT but cannot fully recover the VAT you incur on costs, your figures should include irrecoverable VAT. Grants we make are ‘outside the scope’ of VAT and should be listed in your accounts as a grant and not, for example, as a fee for any services supplied to the BFI. You should get financial advice from your own accountant or the relevant tax office. 

Cashflow  

If you are successful, funding will be cashflowed in-line with spend across the three-year period and subject to:    

• satisfactory performance — you can continue to deliver your activity in line with your funding agreement and these guidelines
• receipt and approval by BFI of routine reporting including progress against KPIs and costs to date
• receipt and approval by BFI of updated annual delivery plans for 27/28 and 28/29
• demonstration that you can remain financially viable through to the end of the term. 

Partnership funding  

When you apply you will be asked if you have any other income sources for the activity, which could be cash or in-kind support. You are not required to have additional income. Other BFI funds cannot be used as partnership funding. The course must be free for participants (though participants may have to pay their own travel costs to and from the course on a means-tested basis). 

4. What your project needs to achieve 

Key Performance Indicators 

We will measure the success of the BFI Film Academy Training Courses using the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  

• a maximum of 30 participants per year starting each training course
• 50% of participants progressing from BFI Film Academy Hub programme  
• 90% of participants completing a training course
• participant diversity data based on BFI Inclusion Targets outlined below
• 80% of participants progress onto further training
• 90% of participants rate their experience as at least good (metric to be confirmed)
• 75% of funded activity supports beneficiaries based outside of London and the South East of England
• at least five participants per year accepted onto the BFI Film Academy Professional Development Programme or other progression route

Equity, diversity and inclusion  

All  activity supported by our funding should address the BFI Diversity Standards. If successful, you’ll need to report following the conclusion of your activity, evaluating how you’ve delivered against the aims of the Diversity Standards in practice. 

You will need to design your training course, and its promotion and recruitment, to benefit young people aged 18 to 22 with a focus on those from Black and Global Majority backgrounds, those with a disability, those from low-income backgrounds, those from identified opportunity areas and young people identified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). 

Each training course will contribute towards achieving the following BFI Inclusion targets:  

• Disabled (including those with a longstanding physical or mental condition and those identifying as D/deaf or neurodiverse): 18%  
• Black and Global Majority (London): 40%  
• Black and Global Majority (outside London): 30% 
• Gender: 50%
• Sexual orientation (LGB+) for young people aged 18 and over: 10%
• Low income backgrounds measured by entitlement to Free School Meals: 25% 

UK-wide 

You’ll need to tell us about where your course will be delivered and how this will support the BFI’s UK-wide principle. You should describe how the location of your course connects with any related industry hubs or infrastructure relating to the course subject. Participants should be recruited from across the UK and each course should strive to have a representative national cohort.  

Environmental sustainability 

You’ll need to consider how you’ll apply environmental sustainability (ES) principles to the funded activity or your organisation more generally. This could include: 

• implementing good environmental practice for the project, for example, travel and events
• embedding sustainability within your organisation more broadly
• exploring environmental themes as part of the work, for example, programming, training or skills development 

Due to the range of organisations and activity that we fund, we’re not prescriptive about what you should focus on. For guidance, you can refer to resources provided by Julie’s Bicycle, particularly the Sustainable Screen Resource Hub, which outlines good environmental practices. If your project relates to production activities, you can also explore resources provided by BAFTA albert.

If funded, you are required to submit environmental impact data and report how you have applied the ES principle. Find guidance on reporting on Julie’s Bicycle website.

What your training course needs to achieve

All training courses will also need to:

• provide a minimum of seven days of in-person training, over an intensive week or over a set number of weekends, as a residential
• address the BFI Film Academy Core Educational Outcomes – as you design and structure your course, please consider how you will ensure that participants are supported to gain key soft and technical skills which are outlined in the Core Educational Outcomes one and two  
• provide sessions led by or including high-profile industry figures who are recognised practitioners in their field
• give participants the opportunity to watch British independent and specialised cinema and engage with a range of mediums, to integrate critical understanding and enable access to a range of screen cultures
• support participants to take their first steps towards employment in the screen industries
• enable participants to construct a personal development plan, including aspirations for progression
• signposting to next steps at other organisations including referral to the BFI Film Academy Professional Development Programme and BFI Skills Cluster training opportunities
• give participants the opportunity to plan, deliver and review a practical film-based or film-related project, either individually or as part of a team, which must be showcased at the end of the course
• provide “hands on” technical experience centred around collaborative filmmaking and practical craft skills, including giving participants experience on current industry equipment

5. How to apply 

Information you need to provide 

You will be asked to provide an outline of your course activity, detailing your aims and objectives and KPIs. Please refer to section three when completing this part of the application. 

You will need to attach your course schedule to your application using the template provided (see below).

Please set out in your application the geographical location of your proposed specialist course along with your rationale, for example to aid specialist industry engagement. Although courses themselves will be delivered in a specific location, participants should be recruited from across the UK and each delivery partner should strive to have a national cohort. 

Experience and management 

You will be asked to detail your experience in managing similar programmes. Include details of: 

• previous experience in delivering high quality residential training courses or activities for 18 to 22-year-olds, with strong learning, cultural or vocational outcomes
• how the programme will be managed from launch to recruitment, including key milestones
• key staff members responsible for delivery, with bios and confirmation of DBS checks (carried out or renewed in the last two years) for lead tutors and welfare staff

You must attach appropriate compliance procedures to your application, for example, your policy for working with vulnerable adults  

Recruitment  

You will be asked to outline your recruitment strategy so we can assess the likelihood of you attracting target participants, in line with the focus areas described in section four. Identify the communities that you’ll focus on, which must be reflected in your proposed KPI targets. 

Safeguarding  

You will be required to give details of your arrangements for any safeguarding needs, risk assessment and care, including your approach to digital and online safeguarding. 

Budget 

Please complete the budget template (see below) and append it to your application. Ensure you read the guidance on the first tab before completing the budget.  

For each years’ course allocation (up to £87,900), the following amounts are ring-fenced to go towards specific activity, dependent on the number of participants: 

• between £6,250 and £7,500 for mentoring and progression support
• between £7,200 and £8,400 for travel bursaries and access costs for course participants
  • additional access funding can be applied for from the BFI Film Academy central pot on a case-by-case basis 

Environmental sustainability 

You should consider the following elements in answering this section: 

• venue — do you take environmental criteria into venue choice? For example:
  • does the venue have an organisational environmental policy or any environmental awards or certifications?
  • is it conveniently located for public transport?
  • what environmental measures are in place? (for example, green energy, waste prevention and recycling measures, water refill stations)
• staff and course participants’ travel – how do you plan to encourage the use of low or zero carbon travel?
• catering – does your catering offer a significant proportion of plant-based options, locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, with minimal use of single use disposable serve ware?
• procurement and suppliers – tell us about how you avoid waste and source recycled, recyclable or reusable materials. 

KPIs 

Proposed KPIs for your activity, aligned with the Fund-level KPIs stated at section four above 

Deliverables

Proposed deliverables for your activity, linked with achieving your KPIs. 

BFI Diversity Standards 

You will also need to outline in your application how your proposed approach meets the BFI Diversity Standards (see above).    

Documents you need to provide 

You will need to attach the following to your application: 

• full budget and cash flow for the activity using the template provided (see below)
• course schedule (see below)
• last set of independently certified / audited accounts
• if more than 12 months has passed since the year end covered in your last filed statutory accounts, please additionally provide draft accounts for the intervening auditable period as approved by your board (including both income and expenditure reporting and a balance sheet) If this is not possible for your organisation, please contact filmacademy@bfi.org.uk to discuss with the team.
• Your most recent budget and management accounts for the current financial year as approved by your Board (including both income and expenditure reporting and a balance sheet), as well as any subsequent budget reforecast since board approval was provided
• Budget/forecast for your organisation for financial years 2026 to 2029, accompanied by notes highlighting the assumptions made and key risks (for instance around renewal of funding from other sources)
• Your organisational risk register 

We may request further financial information from you while we are assessing your application 

Equality monitoring form 

You may be asked to complete an equality monitoring form when you submit your application. The form asks for demographic information on the staff working on your project or in your organisation. The data you submit on this form will be confidential and anonymous and not seen by the staff assessing your application. We will not be able to put forward your application for assessment until you have completed the equality monitoring form. 

If you have any questions when completing the application form please contact us on filmacademy@bfi.org.uk  

Submitting your application 

To apply, you’ll need to create an account or have an existing account on our grant website. You’ll then need to complete and submit the online application form. You can save your application and return to it when you need to.     

Make sure you complete all the sections as incomplete forms will be automatically ineligible.  

You can view a PDF preview of the application form:

For guidance about how to use our new BFI applicant portal:

Download budget and risk template

Download course schedule template

6. What happens after you apply 

You’ll get confirmation we’ve received your application and a unique ID number within 5 working days. 

You’ll get a decision within 12 weeks.  

If your application is ineligible we’ll let you know that we cannot consider it for funding. 

If you’ve made a mistake in your application, and that’s the only reason it’s ineligible, we may get in touch with you so that you can correct it. 

If we need more information   

Once submitted, we will review your application and if necessary, may write to you or request to meet with you to obtain more information about your application. If we need additional information from you, it may take us longer to reach a decision on your application. 

How your application is assessed  

We will undertake a detailed assessment of your proposal for the course activity including management, recruitment, delivery plan, alumni support plan, safeguarding and the budget. We consider the following criteria when we assess applications:

• how you’ve managed any previous BFI awards
• your demonstration of need for National Lottery funding
• whether there is a clear public benefit to the proposed activity

Scope 

Does the: 

• outline proposal demonstrate a good understanding of the aims and objectives of the BFI Film Academy?
• application demonstrate clear links to the screen industries?
• application demonstrate strong relationships within the educational and wider cultural sector?
• applicant explain how they will develop young people’s interest, passion and inform them about potential careers across the screen industries?
• applicant demonstrate clear knowledge and proven skills in the chosen area of delivery?
• applicant show a clear understanding and knowledge of working with a diverse range of young people?  

Course schedule 

Does the: 

• schedule offer a minimum seven days of in-person delivery?
• planned programme of activity contribute to delivering the Core Educational Outcomes 1 and 2?
• course include sessions focused on developing specific skills within the chosen field?
• course include sessions focusing on a range of job roles within the specific chosen field?
• course include sessions which signpost participants on to next stages of development?
• course schedule include established and relevant (to the course subject) industry professionals?
• application propose a viable contingency plan in the event that the proposed schedule could not be delivered?  

In addition to these: 

• is there time for each participant to plan, deliver and review a practical screen-based project either individually or as part of a team, to add to their portfolio?
• are there sessions where participants are given the opportunity to watch films enabling critical understanding and access from a range of film cultures?

Experience and management 

Does the applicant have:

• experience of delivering high quality residential training courses or activities for 18 to 22 year olds with strong learning, cultural or vocational outcomes?
• a clear plan for managing the course from launch to conclusion, including recruitment and evaluation?
• qualified and relevantly skilled DBS-checked staff (carried out or renewed in the last two years) to deliver the course?  

Recruitment  

Does the applicant

• demonstrate a clear recruitment and selection strategy for participants, ensuring that participants are openly and fairly recruited from across the UK?
• demonstrate a clear experience of working with a diversity of young people from a range of backgrounds?
• describe ways it will reach those with disabilities, with proof of strategies to achieve this through previous projects?
• demonstrate how equality, diversity and accessibility will be addressed when assessing participants’ applications?

If applicable, has the applicant met its diversity commitments for a BFI Film Academy course (or similar) previously?  

Safeguarding  

Does the applicant: 

• have a safe and reliable premises where they are proposing to run the programme?
• have an up-to-date safeguarding policy, which includes digital safeguarding and safeguarding for overnight stays away from a learner’s home, appropriate safeguarding procedures and an incident reporting template?
• have qualified and relevantly skilled DBS-checked staff to deliver the programme and evidence that appropriate compliance procedures are in place, for example, health and safety policies?
• have appropriate compliance procedures in place, for example, a child and vulnerable adults protection policy? 

Budget 

Is the:

• applicant in an adequate financial position to deliver the course?
• budget realistic and appropriate to the scale and nature of the programme?

Does the budget:

• consider access requirements? (for example, improved physical access to the venues and interpreter costs)
• include support for participant travel costs, and provision for mentoring and support for progression routes? 

How we prioritise submissions 

We prioritise proposals that: 

• are closest to the fund  aims and priorities
• we think will have the biggest impact
• offer value for money
• take risks and try new  approaches
• are based in the English regions outside London and those from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales 

Identity checks 

We undertake due diligence assessments of the applications we are recommending to our decision-making committee for funding.  

We will request the personal address and date of birth of the CEO or Managing Director of the organisation applying. We will use this data to run an identity check. This is not a credit check and our request for this information is not an indication or confirmation of funding and you will be informed separately of the funding decision on your application. We will be unable to submit your application to our decision-making committee until we have received your completed form. 

Grant and Lottery Finance Committee Consideration 

Following assessment of each application, funding recommendations will be made to the BFI Grant and Lottery Finance Committee. This is the final stage of the funding decision process. All applicants will be informed in writing of the decision on their application.  

7. Getting a decision 

If you’re unsuccessful  

We may have turned down your application because we determined that the proposal: 

• did not fit our funding objectives and outcomes
• did not demonstrate a strong enough commitment to one or all of the following principles: equity, diversity and inclusion; environmental sustainability; UK-wide
• was too ambitious for the budget
• did not demonstrate enough relevant experience
• was not yet developed enough
• did not demonstrate sufficient need for National Lottery support and should be financed by other means
• did not meet with the BFI Diversity Standards. 

Feedback on an unsuccessful application  

If we had a meeting with you to discuss your application, you can ask for feedback on your application. We’re a small team and unfortunately that means we’re unable to give feedback to other applicants. 

If you’re successful  

You’ll:

• receive a written offer of funding.
• need to sign the offer of funding and return it to the BFI  

Your offer of funding will set out details of how you’ll receive the funding, how to use it and how we expect you to report to us. 

Read the conditions of funding section and General conditions of National Lottery funding to find out what you will have to do if you are offered an award. 

We will keep the data and supporting materials you sent to us in line with our records retention policy. 

We welcome your feedback on the application process and how we might improve it – please contact us on filmacademy@bfi.org.uk 

8. Conditions of funding 

If we offer you an award, in addition to the General Conditions of National Lottery Funding, the following conditions will apply to your award: 

All appointed course providers will be required to submit the following paperwork prior to receipt of funding and commencement of the course: 

• list of all staff working on the course on headed paper
• evidence of Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks (carried out or renewed in the last two years) for all key staff working on the course
• an up-to-date health and safety policy
• up-to-date Safeguarding policy and procedures, and an incident reporting template
• completed risk assessment (the BFI will provide this template to successful applicants)
• if your application is successful, you’ll need to report to us at the end of your activity, evaluating how you’ve delivered against the Diversity Standards in practice
• successful applicants will be encouraged to use the Julie’s Bicycle tool as part of their reporting to assess their carbon footprint

General 

You will need to adopt safeguarding provisions for protecting children and vulnerable adults.  

You will be required to work collaboratively with relevant BFI departments and partners, including those not identified in your application, to ensure widest possible dissemination of the Programme activity to potential users. 

Use of the award 

Any award must be used exclusively for the purpose for which it was requested as set out in your application. The award should not be used for marketing and advertising, or for any costs associated with the maintenance, technical development or updating of existing websites or for the development/creation of new websites. You will be required to undertake to fully comply with Disclosure and Barring, health and safety policies in delivering the course.  

Course providers will need to notify the BFI of any participants who drop-out of the course and where possible replace the individual with another suitable applicant.  

Marketing and communications are covered centrally by BFI Film Academy and should not be included in your budget.  However, recruitment and outreach costs can be included, particularly where it enables you to reach a more diverse group of young people. 

Partnership funding 

BFI will require approval over the provision of all partnership funding including the identity of the providers and terms of funding to ensure that all associations are appropriate for the BFI and the National Lottery and to ensure that such relationships do not bring you, or by association the BFI and the National Lottery into disrepute. 

Where you have included unsecured partnership funding within your budget, you will need to provide updates on securing this finance to the BFI (normally as part of your performance reporting but, where such partnership funding is intrinsic to delivery of the activity, as a pre-condition to the funding agreement).  The BFI may elect to withhold or withdraw your award if you are unable to secure the level of partnership funding required to deliver the activity as planned or require that you submit revised plans and budget showing how the activity could be delivered without the planned partnership funding.  

Term 

Funding will be offered to run the course three times between April 1 2026 and March 31 2029.  

Monitoring, performance review and evaluation  

As part of the award we expect course providers to collect monitoring data on the deliverables.  

You will need to ensure that data on all participants in, and beneficiaries of, the Programme can be shared with BFI in compliance with data protection legislation. 

You will be required to deliver an end of year (EOY) report using the template provided to you by the BFI, and will be due on schedule.  

In addition to the completed EOY report, you will also need to submit: 

• data summary for the year
• a budget and cost statement setting out actual expenditure against budget
• media release forms for all participants
• list of project staff, freelancers and volunteers
• images, video or sound recordings of your activity in formats specified

You will be required to attend an annual performance review as well as other routine or specific meetings with BFI colleagues to discuss progress.    

An evaluation may be carried out by an independent third party and you may be asked share data and other information with the appointed evaluators to demonstrate your contribution to these measures of success.    

You’ll need to report to us at the end of your activity, evaluating how you’ve delivered against the Diversity Standards in practice. 

You will be required to work with our designated cultural sustainability partner to assess your environmental impact. Further guidance and support will be provided to you once the award period begins. 

Payment of the award 

The BFI will set out a cash flow schedule for the award. This is likely to be as follows for each of the 3 years: 

• 40% on signature of funding agreement and receipt and approval by BFI of Conditions of funding (as above)
• 40% upon receipt and approval from the BFI of:
  • a finalised course schedule and budget
  • a list of recruited participants
  • completed BFI monitoring template (provided by the BFI) on anonymised participants, which should include number of:
    • total participants successfully recruited
    • participants from Black and Global Majority backgrounds (from inside and outside of London)
    • participants identifying as women within the gender binary
    • participants from a working class background
    • participants with a disability
    • participants in receipt of free school meals
    • participants who identify as LGB+
• 20% upon receipt of and BFI approval of:
  • submission of End of Year (EOY) report, films or portfolios created, images and all accompanying documentation (before this payment is made, the EOY report will be reviewed internally, and this will take a minimum of two weeks from submission)

Acknowledging BFI funding

Your project will be funded by the BFI, which receives money from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Lottery. Because of this, it’s important to clearly show where the funding comes from.

You’ll need to: 

• use the correct logos (for UK government, DCMS, BFI, National Lottery, and any agreed match funders in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) on things like websites, printed materials, and social media
• mention the funding in press releases and other communications—highlighting not just that you’ve received funding, but why it’s been given and the positive impact it supports
• follow BFI branding guidelines, which may be updated from time to time
• get BFI approval for any materials created for outreach related to your funded activity

9. Appendix – BFI Film Academy core educational outcomes (CEO)

Knowledge and understanding (Core Educational Outcome 1)

CEO1: Outcomes

A. Knowledge

• Understanding of film as a subject and art form and other subjects that are addressed through film
• Understanding of the film industry, options for career and Further Education progression

B. Soft skills 

Improved soft skills and communication skills (including non-verbal).

C. Attitudes and behaviours 

• Improved or enhanced motivation and engagement, empathy, confidence
• Strengthened sense of identity and voice

D. Enjoyment and aspiration 

Participants are engaged, captivated and enjoy the experience of film.

E. Careers advice and guidance 

Participants have knowledge around opportunities for career development, other training and advancement within their region and how to apply for them.

CEO1: Key learning points

• receive a rounded educational and cultural experience of the screen industry
• develop basic critiquing skills through watching and discussing a wide range of British and world cinema
• gain understanding of a story structure
• gain a clear understanding of the film and wider screen value chain from development through to distribution and exhibition
• have direct engagement with industry practitioners in relevant fields
• have greater appreciation of and demand for British films
• gain a clear understanding of key roles and job market in the film industry and wider film sector.
• develop knowledge around opportunities for screen sector across employment
• provide individuals with a sense of achievement
• develop knowledge around opportunities for career development, other training and advancement within their region
• support participants in devising a personal development plan, develop CV and portfolios
• gain knowledge of negotiating, communication, teamwork through direct practical application of filmmaking, for example, as part of production team, role of producer or director.

Skills (Core Education Outcome 2)

CEO2: Outcomes

New and improved technical skills, critical faculties, and collaboration and team work (applicants can choose to have one or more of these activity areas).

CEO2: Key learning points 

• gain understanding and practical experience of physical production of film
• learn basic camera/lighting/sound skills on current industry equipment
• gain overview of 3D and 2D animation techniques
• gain overview of VFX workflows with mainstream production
• post-production and mastering of films
• marketing, exhibition and distribution lessons
• gain practical experience of editing software, for example Final Cut Pro
• creating sets and understanding of art department — also hair make up, SFX
• produce short films where relevant
• develop a treatment that meets film production specification
• understand the uses of animation in film and develop and use the techniques and processes in a short film production: stings (short 15-second animates)
• learning and experiencing a variety of skills and roles within specialism
• create a portfolio that can be used to gain further opportunities 

Where relevant, participants should have the opportunity to showcase work produced during programme activity.