BFI FILM academy short course SCARBOROUGH 

Are you aged 16-19? Love film, TV and/or other moving image formats? Interested in a career in the film industry? Yes?! Then read on to find out more about our upcoming course how you can apply to join us on the BFI Film Academy Short Course Scarborough in October 2025.

BFI Film Academy offers opportunities for ambitious 16-25 year olds, anywhere in the UK, to learn more about, and get some hands on experience of filmmaking and how to take those first steps to starting a career in the screen industries. Delivered at over 50 locations across the UK and supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)  and National Lottery.

We are running a BFI Film Academy Short Course for young people aged 16-19 (or up to 25 years with an EHC - Education, Health and Care plan) in Scarborough this October half term. We cover a lot in a week and try to run the course as close to a professional film shoot as possible - we may even get to work on a professional film shoot - so will need commitment, focus and a willingness from you to fully throw yourself into the experience! You'll be so proud of what you have achieved by the end of the week and can celebrate your hard work by seeing your finished film on the big screen in front of old and new friends, family and invited guests later in the year. Last year all the finished films screened at the INDIs Festival in Leeds with all the other participants and their films from the other BFI Film Academy Short Course providers across Yorkshire. 

During your week in Scarborough, you'll get the very highest quality film skills training and support to help you create a short film from start to finish, from generating and developing ideas, to editing a final version. We will help you build knowledge and skills with practical hands on sessions and lots of advice from some very talented and experienced filmmakers from all over the UK. You'll have fun with filmmaking processes, meet other like-minded filmmakers, gain confidence, new skills or improve your existing skills. 

Once you have completed the short course, you will become part of the growing BFI Film Academy alumni network with access to events such as career and skills talks and further opportunities to attend courses to advance your learning and film experience both with the BFI and other screen and creative organisations.

We have many ties with the town - our Project Leader, Zoe, grew up in Scarborough and is passionate about bringing the same opportunities to young people in the town that have been been available for many years to young people living in the UK's cities. Reel Solutions will work in partnership with the Showroom, Sheffield and Leeds Young Film to deliver BFI Film Academy Short Courses across Yorkshire and the Humber including Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds - all courses are supported by Film Hub North who work with exhibitors, filmmakers and young people across the Northern Region. 

Reel Solutions are very proud of our excellent track record of inspiring the next generation of filmmakers and crew in the broadest range of screen industries - we believe in the next generation of makers' enthusiasm, talent and ambitions and feel hugely privileged to be able to help support and play a role in enabling their dreams and expanding their horizons and experience. Many of our former participants are now working in a range of roles in film, TV and XR. Reel Solutions have been delivering film schools to young people in partnership with the BFI since the start of the BFI Film Academy scheme in 2011.

• Be involved in making a short film as part of a team

• Be guided through the filmmaking process from start to finish

• Have access to industry standard equipment and facilities

• Be supported to turn your own ideas and stories into a short film

• Learn from, and gain top tips for success from industry professionals

• Make great new connections and contacts

• Watch and discuss a range of films to help develop your own filmmaking

• Learn about new emerging technologies in film production

• Attend course sessions, and take part in production planning meetings, film shoots and editing sessions both face to face and online

The next BFI Film Academy Short Course Scarborough will run during the October half term holiday 2025 with production week taking place most days during that week. The Academy in Scarborough will be a short, intensive course in various central locations in Scarborough, nearly all within walking distance of the train station. Elements of the course will be delivered online but the majority of the course will be face to face. Some session dates are still TBC but production week will run on the following days:

Friday evening 24 October; all day Saturday 25 October, Monday 27 October - Saturday 1 November; and a 'next steps' session will be held online on Tuesday evening 4 November. There will be additional dates for film screenings in local and Regional cinemas and a production visit. 

We will be looking for 20 young people aged 16-19 (or up to 25 years with an EHC - Education, Health and Care plan) who want to find out more about film and TV and new emerging screen technologies and think they might like to try for the first time, or further develop, their filmmaking skills. Previous filmmaking experience isn’t necessary. We welcome applications from all young people including neurodivergent people, disabled people and people with non-visible disabilities, people with mental health conditions and people who may experience racism.

BFI Film Academy Scarborough Short Course is free to attend. If you think you might need assistance covering other associated course costs such as travel and childcare, please still apply – there is a bursary fund to cover these costs where eligible. More information about who can, and how to apply for bursaries, can be found here along with a bursary application form.

Applications are open - please apply as soon as you can and complete the short online application form below. We strongly advise you to copy and save your answers for reference. 

Please get in touch (bfifilmacademy@reelsolutions.uk) if you need support with your application or have any questions about the process or the course - we will try our best to help and remove any barriers to you applying and answer your questions. Paper copies of the application form are available if needed and we accept video applications if you'd rather film your responses to writing. 

Applications will close on Sunday 5 October.