BFI Film Academy Short Course 2023

The 2023-24 edition of BFI Film Academy Short Course ran at City Eye from November 2023 - January 2024. 
On Saturday 11 November 2023, 20 excited students arrived at City Eye for their first day of Film Academy. Starting out as perfect strangers, they quickly established themselves as members of a crew with ambition to create a professional short film. It did not take long for the ideas to form and after an intensive shoot, the short film ‘Piece’ was born.

'Piece' tells the story of Max (Scarlett Rayner), a wannabe graffiti artist who begins a short rivalry with an anonymous artist. You can view the film here:
Throughout the course, the students developed their filmmaking skills across a wide range of disciplines including camera, lighting and sound, and worked to complete their Silver Arts Award. 

Film Screenings
​Alongside a variety of short film, the students got the chance to enjoy newly released films 'Scrapper,' the debut feature film of BFI Film Academy alumni Charlotte Regan as well as the inspiring documentary 'Is there Anybody Out There?' from young British Filmmaker Ella Glendining. Both films were screened as part of Southampton Film Week 2023.

Guest Speakers included
  • Writer & Director Chris Reading (The Unreason, Alien Containment)
  • Writer & Director Liam Calvert (A Night Like This, 1 in 6)
  • Artists Joanna Ross, André Lewis and Matthew Grove

Post-Academy Opportunities
Graduates of this course have had many opportunities to further their skills and experience as filmmakers, at City Eye, including:
  • The chance to work on feature film 'A Night Like This' (Previously titled 'On A Winter Night) in London, starring Alexander Lincoln, Jack Brett Anderson and the legendary David Bradley.
  • Attending City Eye's monthly Film Network
  • Attending 1825 Filmmakers Group
  • Taking part in DV Mission 48 Hour Film Challenge
  • Working on short film '1999' by local filmmaker Harry New​

The BFI's alumni programme also provides regular activity to graduates of the BFI Film Academy. Not only providing every student with 2 years of BFI Player but also access to their further training programme.

Some of our 2023 students went on to complete the following BFI specialist courses:
  • Craft Skills at NFTS
  • Art Department at Calling the Shots
  • Documentary at CTVC
Film Premiere
The cast & crew premiere took place at Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton to an audience of family, friends, peers and supporters. It was fantastic to see the students hard work culminate in this premiere on the silver screen.

City Eye would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the following companies for sponsoring this event: Busy Bee Mortgages and Protection Solutions limited, greenwood-IT, Ceratopia Ltd, The Maples Guest House, New Forest Car Sales Ltd, Retro Workshop and Marion Jenkins Therapies. It was wonderful that so many of you were able to attend for the screening that you made possible. Huge thanks to the team at Harbour Lights too!
If you would like to find out more about all of the opportunities offered for 16 - 25s through BFI Academy, including opportunities for graduates of this course,  then click the link below.
BFI FILM ACADEMY WEBSITE
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