BFI Film Academy Craft Skills

BREAK INTO FILM

BFI Film Academy offers opportunities for ambitious 16 to 19-year olds aiming to know more about film and how to make a career in the screen industries. Hands-on filmmaking courses builds knowledge and skills and shows the pathways into the industry for talented and committed young people, with an excellent track record of inspiring the next generation of filmmakers and crew.

Craft Skills Course

As part of the BFI Film Academy specialist course programme our Craft Skills course is delivered via a summer residential in Edinburgh.

Young people aged 16 to 19 across the UK will join us to receive advanced and intensive craft sessions focusing on screenwriting, cinematography, sound, directing, production and editing, take part in masterclasses with award winning film industry experts, and view the UK’s best short films.

You'll work with professional actors, use industry standard equipment, and collaborate in teams to produce short films, which upon completion are screened for industry guests, friends and family. Each learner is also given key advice on industry entry and supported to produce a personal development plan to aid your next steps in film.

Industry Experts

Our previous Craft Skills course participants have learnt from talent working on a diverse range of films and tv drama including Dunkirk, Slumdog Millionaire, Slow Horses, Eden Lake, The Angel’s Share, Children of Men, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, The Descent, Wolf, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Girl with All the Gifts, I Daniel Blake, Nocturnal, Tell it to the Bees, Macbeth, Not Another Happy Ending, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Calibre, Sunshine on Leith, Under the Skin, Beast, Anna and the Apocalypse, Star Wars, Outlander, Downton Abbey, Skins, Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror and Sherlock.

Course Dates

Our summer 2023 Craft Skills Residential course takes place from Saturday 29th July to Saturday 5th August in Edinburgh, with screenwriting, film watching, and group development taking place via virtual learning from early July in the lead up to the Residential.

Course Fees

We welcome applications from all talented young filmmakers. Fees range from zero to £250 for the course.

Please don't let the cost deter you from applying. If a young person is offered a place on the Film Academy and can't afford the fee, and other associated costs such as travel, a bursary scheme will help you - if you have the talent we'll make sure you can attend.

Applications for this course are now closed.

If you have any questions or queries about the course, please contact our Administrator [email protected]

To watch our BFI Film Academy films, click here

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