BFI's flagship skills development program for young people aged 16-25, BFI Film Academy, today announces the creation of 12 BFI Film Academy Hubs, covering all countries and regions of the UK, to support young people from underrepresented populations in gaining access to local training and career support, as well as to develop skills where they are most needed by the industry.
Thanks to increased funding from the UK Government (DCMS), ongoing funding of BFI as part of the National Lottery, and support from the Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland and the Government of Wales through Creative Wales, the new centres are part of the updated national BFI Film Academy program for 2026-2029. Free BFI Film Academy centers will provide a unique and flexible career ladder for young people aged 16 to 25, opening the way to a career in the film industry and at the same time providing all participants with key life skills for future work.
As part of a strategic approach focused on local funding and distribution of funds throughout the UK, 12 BFI Film Academy centres will be established and operated to meet the needs of young people in their regions, under the leadership of the following organizations:
- BFI Eastern England Film Academy is a project of 104 Projects CIC.
- BFI Film Academy East Midlands - Broadway Nottingham project
- London Film Academy BFI - CTVC project.
- The Northeast region of England, funded by the BFI Film Academy, is a project supported by Tyneside Cinema.
- North-West Film Academy BFI is a project of HOME Manchester.
- BFI Film Academy South East - Screen South project.
- BFI Film Academy South West - Watershed Bristol project.
- BFI West Midlands Film Academy - organized by the charity organization Rural Media Charity.
- BFI Yorkshire and Humber Film Academy is represented by Showroom Cinema.
- BFI Film Academy of Northern Ireland is a project of Nerve Centre.
- BFI Film Academy Scotland - Screen Education Edinburgh project
- BFI Film Academy of Wales is a Screen Alliance Wales project.
Each BFI Film Academy center will engage with schools, youth clubs, colleges and wider community groups to hold year-round events that allow local youth aged 16-25 to acquire technical and universal skills, receive career advice and establish connections to support them in building careers in the film industry and other creative industries. Each center will develop and conduct introductory courses for young people aged 16-19, designed to give a general idea of the film industry with an emphasis on roles in production, film heritage, rental and distribution. Year-round events, including networking and master classes, will be open to young people aged 16-25, providing constant comprehensive support and guidance. Each center will be assigned a graduate manager who will create strong local mutual aid networks and coordinate activities, including internship programs, resume seminars and financial literacy recommendations to support newcomers starting their careers in the industry and promote staff retention.
Investments from the UK Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports are part of the Creative Industries Sector Development Plan aimed at supporting professional skills in the film industry and strengthening the human resources for the future workforce of the industry. The training offered by the Film Academy of the British Film Institute (BFI) is also consistent with the objectives of the "Good Work" program, set out in the UK Government's National Youth Strategy, which aims to provide young people with real opportunities and employment paths.
Ian Murray, Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sports, said: "British cinema reaches its peak when it tells plausible stories about real lives, which means that the people who create these stories should reflect the country in which we live. These national centers of the BFI Film Academy will provide young people from underrepresented groups of the population with the necessary training and connections to build a career in cinema - regardless of place of residence and origin."
"Talent is everywhere, but there are few opportunities, and we need to fix it. These centres will help bridge this gap and create the diverse, skilled workforce that our film industry needs in the future, thanks to regional partners who know how best to support their local communities."
Zakia Bale, Head of Programs at BFI Film Academy, comments: "BFI Film Academy is pleased to cooperate with thousands of talented young people across the UK and establish meaningful partnerships with industry leaders over the next three years, helping to shape the future of the British film sector. This new version of the BFI flagship program is designed to meet the needs of the ever-changing and rapidly developing film industry. The BFI Film Academy Centers will allow young people from all over the UK to explore career paths and develop the skills most in demand in this sector, regardless of their origin and place of residence."
Based on the success of the last 13 years since its launch in 2012 - more than 70% of graduates are getting jobs in the film industry or related industries - and thanks to extensive consultations with industry representatives and young people, the new BFI Film Academy offer focuses on attracting those who are currently underrepresented in the film industry. In addition to opening the doors and inspiring young people to explore a huge number of career opportunities in this sector, advanced training courses and a new professional development program will be announced in the coming months, supported by leading industry partners, who will offer practical technical training in specific areas of the industry and continue the training program from BFI Film Academy centers.
The BFI Film Academy program is part of the broader BFI skills and workforce development department and is part of a broader career development program that includes young creative and career development support funds (supporting the National Saturday Club and Into Film), as well as BFI professional skills clusters.
You can read more about the BFI Film Academy here: https://www.bfi.org.uk/bfi-film-academy