BFI Film Academy 25

Are you an aspiring filmmaker aged 16-19?
Are you passionate about film?
Would you like to develop your skills and gain invaluable insights to work in the film industry?
Whatever area of film you are interested in - this could be your chance to explore opportunities
and kickstart your career!

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH BFI ACADEMY AND PARTNERS ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST REGION TO DELIVER A NEW INTRODUCTORY COURSE FOR YOUNG FILMMAKERS IN 2026.
PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS AS THEY ARE RELEASED OR SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO ENSURE YOU ARE THE FIRST TO HEAR ABOUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

The following information describes recent years' BFI Film Academy Short Courses. Following a programme review some changes will be introduced in 2026. Watch this space!

This is your chance to get-ahead in the film industry. You'll be working with professional filmmakers across a range of activities including workshops, masterclasses and screenings; and you'll get stuck into all aspects of production, working with other students to make your own short film.

All courses are totally FREE to attend and travel bursaries are available.

We welcome and encourage applications from people; with disabilities, who are LGBTQIA+, from lower socio-economic backgrounds, from ethnically diverse communities, and from other disadvantaged groups. We want to prioritise people under-represented in our workforce and in the industry.

Based at City Eye in Southampton but serving the wider Solent and South-Central region, our recent BFI Academy Short Courses have recruited talented young filmmakers from Guildford to the New Forest and along the South Coast from Chichester to Southampton. City Eye is working closely with partners across the region to ensure that this year's activity is accessible to all young people.

In order to apply you must:

be aged 16 to 19-years-old on the first day of the course (applicants who are in receipt of an EHC plan (an education, health and care plan) may be recruited up to 25 years old)
be a UK resident
have a passion or talent for filmmaking and an ambition to work in the screen industries
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

Freddie's Story
In 2023, Freddie joined the BFI Academy Short Course and here tells us about his experience of taking part...

Course Highlights

• Masterclasses from industry experts
• Virtual Production Studio visit
• Pre-Production planning & previsualisation
• Scriptwriting
• Camera training (cine & DSLR)
• On-set etiquette, language and hierarchy
• Short film production from inception to exhibition
• Production and post-production audio skills
• Intro to editing with Adobe Premiere Pro
• Film study and review
• Festival & Film Exhibition

Screen Skills Training Passport

You will also work towards achieving the Screen Skills Training Passport which includes:

Tackling harassment and bullying at work - based on the principles of zero tolerance guidelines developed with organisations across the film, television and games industries by BFI and BAFTA, the module is designed to help recognise and address harassment and bullying behaviours in the workplace.
Safeguarding for all - an introduction to safeguarding for all people working in the screen industries including keeping people safe on productions and the workplace, identifying signs of harm or abuse and how to report it.

Film Premiere

At the end of the course your short film will be screened at a red-carpet premiere for friends and family.

Thank you for your interest in the BFI Film Academy Short Course 2025-26 at City Eye.

All places have now been filled for this year.

Applications Now Closed

Funded by the UK government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and National Lottery.
This programme is part of the BFI Film Academy Short Course, South West Consortium.
A BFI funded programme led delivered by Watershed in partnership with Somerset Film, City Eye and Screen Cornwall.