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BFI's UK-wide 2021 showreel, which includes eight clips from our previous films! And BFI Film Academy at MediaActive trailer
To help develop the next generation of British film industry talent the lead body for film in the UK, the British Film Institute (BFI), in partnership with BAFTA, Pinewood Studios and the Department for Education are now offering young people aged 16 to 19 years industry based training and work experience through the national BFI Film Academy Network.
The BFI Film Academy is the British Film Industry’s gold standard talent development programme, and last year's programme delivered by MediaActive, one of the BFI's Network of UK Partners, included:
Working on a ‘real life’ film commission, collaborating with award winning animators and filmmakers, learning about all aspects of film and animation production as well as idea and script development, practical animation and filmmaking techniques, editing, sound design, music, special effects and how to get your work screened.
If you are thinking about a career in the creative or film industries, as a writer, filmmaker, animator, designer or producer, this opportunity will really help to broaden your portfolio and will allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Our 2025.26 BFI Film Academy will start in October 2025, and Applications will be open very soon - watch this space! However, if you'd like to register your interest earlier than that, then please drop a line to [email protected]
The BFI Film Academy is the British Film Industry’s gold standard talent development programme, and last year's programme delivered by MediaActive, one of the BFI's Network of UK Partners, included:
Working on a ‘real life’ film commission, collaborating with award winning animators and filmmakers, learning about all aspects of film and animation production as well as idea and script development, practical animation and filmmaking techniques, editing, sound design, music, special effects and how to get your work screened.
If you are thinking about a career in the creative or film industries, as a writer, filmmaker, animator, designer or producer, this opportunity will really help to broaden your portfolio and will allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Our 2025.26 BFI Film Academy will start in October 2025, and Applications will be open very soon - watch this space! However, if you'd like to register your interest earlier than that, then please drop a line to [email protected]
Take a look at our past Academy films below.
Many of these have been screened at UK Film Festivals - our latest (2024) film 'Severn Wild' is currently nominated in the 'Time For Action' category at this year's Into Film Awards; 2021's 'Dear Future Generations' was nominated in the 'Changes for a Better World' category at the 2022 Into Film Awards, whilst our 2019 film 'Oddities and Wonders' won 'Best Non-Narrative, Experimental or Animated Film' at the 2020 Film & TV School Wales Schools and Colleges Awards.
You can watch all of our previous BFI Film Academy films by scrolling further down this page, where you'll also find an excerpt from a letter from one of our former Academy participants, about his entry into the film industry/world of blockbuster films! ("it all began with MediaActive...")
Many of these have been screened at UK Film Festivals - our latest (2024) film 'Severn Wild' is currently nominated in the 'Time For Action' category at this year's Into Film Awards; 2021's 'Dear Future Generations' was nominated in the 'Changes for a Better World' category at the 2022 Into Film Awards, whilst our 2019 film 'Oddities and Wonders' won 'Best Non-Narrative, Experimental or Animated Film' at the 2020 Film & TV School Wales Schools and Colleges Awards.
You can watch all of our previous BFI Film Academy films by scrolling further down this page, where you'll also find an excerpt from a letter from one of our former Academy participants, about his entry into the film industry/world of blockbuster films! ("it all began with MediaActive...")
BFI Film Academy 2024
Our 2024 Academy took place in Wem and Shrewsbury between October and November 2024, you can watch the part live-action, part-animated, short film 'Severn Wild' that was made during the Academy below.
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Severn Wild
Through animation, live action, spoken word and music composition, the young filmmakers invite the audience to consider the human relationship, past and present, to the life force of the River Severn.
Through animation, live action, spoken word and music composition, the young filmmakers invite the audience to consider the human relationship, past and present, to the life force of the River Severn.
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'Severn Wild' has done well across a number of UK film festivals - winning the 'Made in The Middle' Award at Flatpack (see left-hand image below - six of the young filmmakers just after receiving the Award), as well as being nominated in the 'Time for Action' category at the 2025 Into Film Awards (some of our 2024 cohort pictured in London just before the Awards ceremony at Leicester Square) |
Some photos from our 2024 BFI Film Academy
BFI Film Academy 2022
Our 2022 Academy took place in Shrewsbury between October and November 2022, you can watch the lovely 'Notes on Change' film that was made during the Academy below.
Notes on Change
Inspired by the diaries of a cinema musician from the silent film era, this creative documentary explores the harsh realities presented by the advent of the ‘talkies'.
Inspired by the diaries of a cinema musician from the silent film era, this creative documentary explores the harsh realities presented by the advent of the ‘talkies'.
Some photos from our 2022 BFI Film Academy
BFI Film Academy 2021
Our 2021 Academy took place in Shrewsbury between October and November 2021, a number of excellent films were made - take a look below...
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Archive Vs our Clive
A short creative documentary exploring the controversial 18th Century Shropshire-born figure ‘Clive of India’; his role in history, as well as the presence of his statue in the centre of Shrewsbury.
Son of Shrewsbury
Two grammatically opposed investigative journalists take a look at the legacy, and ubiquity around the town, of one of Shrewsbury’s most famous sons - naturalist Charles Darwin.
A short creative documentary exploring the controversial 18th Century Shropshire-born figure ‘Clive of India’; his role in history, as well as the presence of his statue in the centre of Shrewsbury.
Son of Shrewsbury
Two grammatically opposed investigative journalists take a look at the legacy, and ubiquity around the town, of one of Shrewsbury’s most famous sons - naturalist Charles Darwin.
Some photos from our 2021 BFI Film Academy
BFI Film Academy 2020
Our 2020 Academy took place in February 2021, and, despite the constraints of lockdown, the talented young group of filmmakers made three unique and fabulous films - take a look at them below...
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Dear Future Generations
Using spoken word with selected archive footage, this short film presents an evocative and poignant reflection on the world we inherit and subsequently pass on to the future.
Rose-Tinted Glasses
Working with archive footage from the MACE Amateur Film Collections, this film deals with the loss of a loved one, and cherishes the memories shared.
Pothole and Corncockle
An amusing and quirky short film, with original script and music, takes an interplanetary perspective on human life, using footage from national and regional film archives.
The above three films were made as part of our ‘Adventures with Archives’ programme - to find out more please visit our Adventures with Archives webpage here
Using spoken word with selected archive footage, this short film presents an evocative and poignant reflection on the world we inherit and subsequently pass on to the future.
Rose-Tinted Glasses
Working with archive footage from the MACE Amateur Film Collections, this film deals with the loss of a loved one, and cherishes the memories shared.
Pothole and Corncockle
An amusing and quirky short film, with original script and music, takes an interplanetary perspective on human life, using footage from national and regional film archives.
The above three films were made as part of our ‘Adventures with Archives’ programme - to find out more please visit our Adventures with Archives webpage here
'Oddities and Wonders' - our 2019 BFI Film Academy film
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'Oddities and Wonders' won in the 'Best Non-Narrative, Experimental or Animated Film (16-19)' category at 2020's Film & TV School Wales Schools and Colleges Awards.
You can take a look at the FTSW Awards webpage by selecting the FTSW Awards image/link above. |
'Oddities and Wonders' was made by a team of young people between October and November 2019, as part of the BFI Film Academy at MediaActive in Shropshire. A playful adventure into the weird and wonderful theatrical world of the Music Hall. Step back in time and experience a taste of magic and mystery, music and dance...'and all before your very eyes'.
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Along with winning the 'Best Non-Narrative, Experimental or Animated Film (16-19)' category at this year’s Film & TV School Wales Schools and Colleges Awards (see above), 'Oddities and Wonders' has just been shortlisted for the 'Young Filmmaker' Award at the 2020 Cinemagic Film Festival - you can read the Festival's Press Release by selecting the 'Official Shortlist' laurel.
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Some photos from our 2019 BFI Film Academy
'Unlikely Heroes' - our 2018 BFI Film Academy film
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'Unlikely Heroes' won 'Best Film (16-19 years)' at the 2019 Film & TV School Wales Awards. It was also nominated in the category of 'Best Film (16-19 years)' at the 2019 Into Film Awards and screened at the 2019 Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast. |
A creative animated documentary, using an array of experimental animation techniques, revealing the crucial role messenger pigeons played in wartime. This short film was made by a team of twenty one young people aged 16 to 19 years, working alongside artists, filmmakers and animators, as part of the Eyewitness programme and in response to the 2018 RAF Centenary and WW1 Commemorations. Supported by Arts Council England and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
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‘John Preece
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Some photos from our 2018 BFI Film Academy
BBC Breakfast TV appearance and email from former participant
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A screengrab from our Film Academy blog - click on the link below to go to the blog
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We received a long email from Graham - one of our former Academy participants (pictured on the BBC Breakfast sofa) - it's tells a great story - take a look at Graham's email here
Check out our BFI Film Academy blog (2014 - 2020)
- select the image below
BFI Film Academy blog
Our 2017 BFI Film Academy film Altitude
and the behind the scenes film
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Produced by a team of twenty young people, and with an emphasis on formal experimentation (in special effects and animation), this short film is loosely based around the WW1 pilots who went on to perform, alongside daring wing walkers, in flying circuses after the war.
'Altitude' was nominated for a National Award at the 2018 Into Film Awards in the category of 'Best Animation (13 and over)' |
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Some photos from our 2017 BFI Film Academy
On location at Otherton Airfield to film a replica SE5A
The MediaActive Team would like to thank Peter Davies - the owner of the replica SE5A pictured below - for being such at wonderful host at Otherton Airfield, and for providing our young production team with such an inspiring and unique experience, and rare opportunity, to get up close to a WWI biplane.
Some feedback from our 2017 Alumni
'working on this film has been a revelation to me'
'...the experience of working on this film has been fun - I would definitely do it again!
‘it was great to understand acting from a green screen perspective’
‘I learnt so many new skills, especially about different animation techniques’
'...the experience of working on this film has been fun - I would definitely do it again!
‘it was great to understand acting from a green screen perspective’
‘I learnt so many new skills, especially about different animation techniques’
BFI Film Academy 2016
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A group photo of 2016's production team, along with some of the filmmaking mentors and guest speakers, at the final Film Academy celebratory and industry event - Richard Phelan, Head of Story from Aardman Animation, is pictured on the far left |
BFI Film Academy 2016 - three short films
For 2016's BFI Film Academy the Academy Production Team were split into three separate groups to make three short films responding to a brief relating to 'active lifestyles'. Three teams of five to seven young people, working with filmmaking mentors, made the three short films below in five days. To find out more about our 2016 Film Academy please visit our BFI Film Academy blog. To see the films made by our 2014 and 2015 Film Academies' please scroll a little further down this page!
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BFI Film Academy in North Wales
In 2016 we worked with North Wales Community Music & Film organisation TAPE to establish a new BFI Film Academy for North Wales
BFI Film Academy films - "really imaginative and bold...excellent stuff!"*
Feedback about The Old Tale of Mad Jack Mytton, from the Into Film Awards judges:
"This is a wonderfully expressive animation. It succeeds in telling a new story in the guise of a classic fairytale, tapping into all of the darkness of Grimm, but with a modern and comedic edge. Highly enjoyable. The visual language is playful and enticing, the use of different techniques builds a story world I've never seen before. I particularly loved the use of pop ups, models and the overlaid live action to tell the story, and thought the score worked very well. This a fine collaboration by a team of imaginative artists"
- Len Rowles, Pathe
*Title quote from the actor Michael Sheen
- Len Rowles, Pathe
*Title quote from the actor Michael Sheen
Take a look at our 2014 and 2015 BFI Film Academy films below:
The Old Tale of Mad Jack Mytton and Your Voice Sings Not So Soft
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BFI Film Academy Showcase
@ Flatpack Film Festival Have a look at what some of our Team got up to at last year's Flatpack Film Festival in Birmingham on our Adventures in Alternative Cinema blog |
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Some images from 2015's BFI Film Academy
Feedback from our 2015 BFI Film Academy participants
"Taking part in the BFI Film Academy really inspired me to make my own animations, and was a really good insight into what I will be doing in the future. It was great being part of the of the film and I would love to do it again.”
“Through creating the film, I have learnt about so many new areas of film, and been introduced into a brilliant career path”
"It was a wonderful experience working with MediaActive on the animation and I can't believe it has been nominated for an award which is amazing just being nominated”
“Through creating the film, I have learnt about so many new areas of film, and been introduced into a brilliant career path”
"It was a wonderful experience working with MediaActive on the animation and I can't believe it has been nominated for an award which is amazing just being nominated”
Some images from 2014's BFI Film Academy
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MediaActive Projects C.I.C.
Wem Town Hall High Street, Wem Shropshire, SY4 5DG |
email: [email protected]
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