BFI Film Academy

BFI Film Academy at MediaActive 2019 trailer and BFI's 2019 showcase

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.

Follow the links below to watch last year's film - entitled 'Unlikely Heroes' as well as our earlier BFI Film Academy films. You can also find excerpts from a letter from one of our former Academy participants about his entry into the film industry/world of blockbuster films! ("it all began in Wem with MediaActive...")

BFI Film Academy at MediaActive 2019 dates (MediaActive, Wem Town Hall, SY4 5DG - 10.30am to 5.30pm) : October 12th, 13th, 19th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, and November 1st & 9th. Also one evening session on the 25th November. Please Note: Applications for the 2019 BFI Film Academy at MediaActive are now closed.

'Unlikely Heroes' - our 2018 BFI Film Academy film

'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.

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.

Some photos from our 2018 BFI Film Academy

BBC Breakfast TV appearance and email from former participant

A screengrab from our Film Academy blog - click on the link below to go to the blog

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
- select the image below

BFI Film Academy blog

Our 2017 BFI Film Academy film Altitude
and the behind the scenes film

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)'

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’

BFI Film Academy 2016

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!

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

Take a look at our two of our previous BFI Film Academy films below: The Old Tale of Mad Jack Mytton and Your Voice Sings Not So Soft

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

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”

Some images from 2014's BFI Film Academy below...