These courses help train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers, supporting young people aged 16 to 19 to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to help make a career in film. No experience is necessary.
Courses are delivered across the UK. See the table below for details of areas, how and when to apply and when each course is running.
| Location | Organisation / application link | Enquiries | Application dates (opens / closes) | Course dates (course start / finish) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Station House Media Unit | bfi@shmu.org.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 21 Aug 2020 | 7 Sep 2020 to 6 Feb 2021 |
| Argyll and Bute | Screen Argyll | screenargyll@gmail.com | 18 Aug 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 3 Oct 2020 to 18 Dec 2020 |
| Barrow-in-Furness | Signals Film and Media | kezz@signalfilmandmedia.co.uk | 17 Aug 2020 to 23 Sep 2020 | 17 Oct 2020 to 19 Jan 2021 |
| Belfast, Derry & Amargh | The Nerve Centre | e.king@nervecentre.org | 4 Aug 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 21 Sep 2020 to 8 Feb 2021 |
| Belfast | Cinemagic | nathan@cinemagic.org.uk | 16 Sep 2020 to 21 Sep 2020 | 29 Sep 2020 to 5 Dec 2020 |
| Birmingham | The Company | janette@thecompanyltd.co.uk | 4 Aug to 1 Oct 2020 | 18 Oct 2020 to 21 Nov 2020 |
| Bournemouth | White Lantern | info@getinsidemovies.co.uk | 1 Sep 2020 to 30 Nov 2020 | 6 Dec 2020 to 28 Feb 2021 |
| Bradford | Reel Solutions | zoe@reelsolutions.co.uk | 1 Nov 2020 to 18 Jan 2021 | 6 Feb 2021 to 27 Feb 2021 |
| Bristol | Bristol Old Vic | bex.rose@oldvic.ac.uk | 1 Sep 2020 to 2 Nov 2020 | 28 Nov 2020 to 18 Mar 2021 |
| Bristol | Watershed | bex.r@watershed.co.uk | 1 Sep 2020 to 1 Oct 2020 | 27 Nov 2020 to 17 Mar 2021 |
| Cambridge | 104 projects CIC | justin@104films.com | 1 Oct 2020 to 18 Dec 2020 | 9 Jan 2021 to 30 Jan 2021 |
| Cardiff & Swansea | Bulldozer Films | bulldozerfilms@hotmail.com | 4 Aug 2020 to 1 Oct 2020 | 26 Oct 2020 to 13 Nov 2020 |
| Chester | Reel Solutions | zoe@reelsolutions.co.uk | 1 Sep 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 17 Oct 2020 to 28 Nov 2020 |
| Colchester | Signals Essex | rachel@signals.org.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 12 Oct 2020 | 24 Oct 2020 to 12 Dec 2020 |
| Crook, County Durham | Jack Drum Arts | info@jackdrum.co.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 9 Oct 2020 | 26 Oct 2020 to 5 Dec 2020 |
| Edinburgh | Screen Education Edinburgh | admin@screen-ed.org | 4 Aug 2020 to 7 Sep 2020 | 19 Sep 2020 to 19 Dec 2020 |
| Hereford | Rural Media Productions | info@ruralmedia.co.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 19 Oct 2020 | 21 Oct 2020 to 26 Feb 2021 |
| Hull | CTVC | bfifilmacademy@ctvc.co.uk | 17 Aug 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 10 Oct 2020 to 5 Dec 2020 |
| Ipswich and Norwich | Creative Nation | hello@creative-nation.co.uk | 17 Aug 2020 to 12 Oct 2020 | 13 Feb 2021 to 19 Feb 2021 |
| Kent | Screen South | info@screensouth.org | 7 Sep 2020 to 13 Nov 2020 | 12 Dec 2020 to 27 Feb 2021 |
| Lincoln | Paradigm Arts | rob@paradigmarts.co.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 17 Oct 2020 | 31 Oct 2020 to 20 Feb 2021 |
| London | British Film Institute | futurefilm.academy@bfi.org.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 6 Sep 2020 | 23 Sep 2020 to 5 Dec 2020 |
| London | CTVC | bfifilmacademy@ctvc.co.uk | 17 Aug 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 10 Oct 2020 to 5 Dec 2020 |
| London, Barking | Young Film Academy | courses@youngfilmacademy.co.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 10 Oct 2020 | 27 Oct 2020 to 6 Dec 2020 |
| London, Fulham | London Film Academy | admissions@londonfilmacademy.com | 10 Aug 2020 to 30 Sep 2020 | 3 Oct 2020 to 17 Jan 2021 |
| London, Islington | The Film and Video Workshop | booking@filmworkshop.com | 4 Aug 2020 to 1 Oct 2020 | 10 Oct 2020 to 30 Oct 2020 |
| London, Shoreditch | Eastside Educational Trust | applications@eastside.org.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 21 Sep 2020 | 17 Oct 2020 to 13 Feb 2021 |
| London, Tower Hamlets | Mouth that Roars | mouththatroars@btconnect.com | 9 Sep 2020 to 9 Nov 2020 | 7 Feb 2020 to 13 Feb 2021 |
| Manchester | HOME | youngcreatives@homemcr.org | 1 Sep 2020 to 28 Sep 2020 | 7 Oct 2020 to 2 Dec 2020 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Beacon Films | michelle@beaconfilms.org.uk | 1 Sep 2020 to 6 Dec 2020 | 17 Jan 2021 to 18 Feb 2021 |
| Nottingham | Broadway | filmacademy@broadway.org.uk | 16 Aug 2020 to 23 Oct 2020 | 19 Nov 2020 to 20 Feb 2021 |
| Oxford | Film Oxford | production@filmoxford.org | 4 Aug 2020 to 1 Oct 2020 | 7 Oct 2020 to 8 Nov 2020 |
| Pinewood and Shepperton | Resource Productions | info@resource-productions.co.uk | 4 Aug 2020 to 14 Dec 2020 | 9 Jan 2021 to 20 Feb 2021 |
| Sheffield | Showroom Workstation | sam.barnett@srws.org.uk | 7 Sep 2020 to 23 Oct 2020 | 4 Nov 2020 to 30 Jan 2021 |
| Wem, Shropshire | MediaActive | info@mediaactive.org | 17 Aug 2020 to 15 Nov 2020 | 6 Feb 2021 to 28 Feb 2021 |
| Yeovil | Somerset Film and Video | natalie@somersetfilm.com | 13 Aug 2020 to date tbc | 16 Oct 2020 to 27 Feb 2021 |
In 2020 to 2021 the BFI Film Academy will deliver in line with government guidelines on social distancing. Your course provider will provide you with specific guidance, which may mean that some delivery is face to face and some online. Please contact your chosen course directly if you wish to discuss any support or equipment needs.
BFI Film Academy courses are supported by the Department for Education in England, the National Lottery, Screen Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen.
Eligibility for short courses
In order to apply you must:
- be aged 16 to 19-years-old on the first day of the course
- be a UK resident
- have a passion or talent for filmmaking and an ambition to work in the film industry
- be able to commit to the duration of the course
- not currently be at university or enrolled at university when the course starts
- not have previously enrolled on a BFI Film Academy course
As each course is likely to have more people apply than available places, any evidence you have of your passion or talent will help your application. Every course is open to young people from anywhere in the UK and from any background. No academic education or degree is necessary.
Course accessibility
The BFI Film Academy encourages young people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply. Please email filmacademy@bfi.org.uk or your local provider to discuss any learning support or access requirements that you may have.
Costs
Short courses cost £25, but if you are unable to pay the fee don’t let this discourage you from applying. Contact the course provider, as costs may be waived. Bursaries for travel and childcare are also available if you require assistance with these costs.
How to apply
Each course has its own application process and you will need to apply directly to the organisation running it. Please visit the relevant organisation links in the table for further information.
The starting date for each course varies and there are different deadlines for applications. Please ensure that you can make all the dates for your chosen course before applying.
Related qualifications
If you enrol on a UK Short course you will be completing one of the following qualifications:
The Preparing to Work in the Film Industry qualification helps to develop young people’s interest, passion and skills to help in their potential careers across the film industry. This qualification has been driven by the needs of industry and education partners.
The Arts Award is a framework developed by Arts Council England to help young people learn new skills and share them. The BFI Film Academy is using Explore (specifically for participants with disabilities), Bronze and Silver. Employers, universities and colleges know that Arts Award is a qualification that shows young people’s level of commitment and progress in the arts, and in developing new skills.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please email filmacademy@bfi.org.uk.
See what it’s like on the VR Film Academy at Storyhouse in Chester: