Completely free to attend, the BFI Film Academy Sustainability and Locations training course is a seven-day residential programme based in Somerset. The course gives participants hands-on experience of how productions find, manage and protect filming locations while reducing their environmental impact. Working alongside industry professionals, participants will develop practical skills, gain insight into a range of career pathways, and learn how sustainability is shaping the future of the screen industries.
What you’ll do on the course
- learn about the locations and sustainability departments in film and TV, the different roles within them, and hear directly from industry professionals about their career journeys and routes into the sector
- explore how film and TV productions can reduce their environmental impact – from travel, energy and catering to waste, materials and protecting biodiversity – and discover how sustainability is built into real productions
- get hands-on experience of location scouting, learning how to assess potential locations, carry out recces, work with location owners and communities, and use tools including 360° cameras, LiDAR scanning and VR
- visit real filming locations and hear behind-the-scenes case studies from major productions, exploring how locations are found, managed and protected and the practical challenges involved in filming there
- discover how productions work with heritage and environmentally sensitive locations, including visits to places such as Dunster Castle and West Somerset Railway, and learn about conservation, biodiversity and responsible filming practices
- put your learning into practice by responding to a simulated industry brief, working as a team to research locations, develop a sustainability plan and pitch your ideas
- build valuable employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, CV development and portfolio building, to support your future career in the screen industries
- become part of the BFI Film Academy Alumni network and access exclusive opportunities, advice and professional development beyond the course
Course details
| Delivered by | Somerset Film in partnership with Location One |
|---|---|
| Course dates | 14 to 20 February 2027 |
| Number of days | 7 |
| Location | South West of England |
| Number of places | 25 |
| Booking details and contact | Apply via Somerset Film or email [email protected] |
| Applications open | 9 November 2026 |
| Applications close | 10 January 2027 |