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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!
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!
2025-26 Short Course
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The 2025-26 edition of BFI Film Academy Short Course ran at City Eye from October 2025 - January 2026.
The students worked with writer/director Liam Calvert (A Night Like This) to devise a short film based on one of his scripts. Together they created an adaptation, culminating in the production of 'Checked Out' about a mis-matched library rom-com. The short course included masterclasses, hands-on production training, cinematography and sound lessons that prepared them for an intensive shoot. From storyboarding to a celebratory premiere screening at Southampton City College, the students learned a lot about the film industry and what it takes to make a film. |
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 |
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Guest Speakers included
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2024-25 Short CourseThe 2024-25 edition of BFI Film Academy Short Course ran at City Eye from October 2024 - January 2025.
An intensive and inspiring course at City Eye's BFI Film Academy. The students worked hard to complete a film of their own devising, shaped by expert-led masterclasses, hands-on production training, and deep dives into scriptwriting, cinematography and sound design. From pre-visualisation to final edit, students navigated the entire filmmaking process - honing their skills. Their film 'Midnight' is the darkly-comic tale of three colleagues trapped at work after the Y2K bug brings an apocalyptic end to their New Years Eve office party in 1999. Film Premiere
The cast & crew premiere will take place at Harbour Lights Cinema in Southampton to an audience of family & friends. 
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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 Guest Speakers included
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.
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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.
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.
2023-24 Course
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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: |
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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
Post-Academy Opportunities Graduates of this course have had many opportunities to further their skills and experience as filmmakers, at City Eye, including:
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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! Freddie's Story
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:
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