BFI FILM CLUB BRADFORD

Want to learn the difference between FlipAClip and Stop Motion Studio and how to use them both to make animations?

Maybe you just love films and want to have fun finding out more about how they are made or try your hand at creating your own short animated film? A new online film course from the British Film Institute (BFI) aimed at young people aged 12 – 15 years old from West Yorkshire and further afield will support you to do just that.

Focusing on animation, the 7 day online BFI Film Club delivered by Screen Argyll, who already deliver fantastic BFI Film Academy online animation courses, and Reel Solutions, encourages you to get creative and gives you the skills and confidence to start making your own animated films. You’ll learn more about model making, how to make a FlipAClip and lots of other filming techniques to create a series of short animated films of your own guided by friendly film professionals who work for companies such as the world famous, four times Academy Award winning Aardman, creators of Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run.

The new BFI Film Club builds on the success of Bradford’s BFI Film Academy which has been delivered annually in the town by Reel Solutions since 2015 for 16-19 year olds and has helped many local young people find work in the film industry. Reel Solutions will deliver the Film Club in partnership with Screen Argyll who deliver fantastic online animation courses for the BFI Film Academy scheme. The new course will be part of a pilot project this year have made possible by funding from BFI, National Lottery and the DCMS Youth Accelerator Fund.


BFI Film Club are new filmmaking courses for 2021 aimed at young people aged 12-15 years old from the British Film Institute (BFI) in limited towns and cities throughout England in locations identified as 'Opportunity Areas' by the Department for Education (DfE) owing to social and economic challenges. See here for more information.


Each BFI Film Club will support up to 20 young teenagers aged 12 -15 who want to find out more about film, careers in the film industry, develop their skills or try filmmaking for the first time. Previous filmmaking experience isn’t necessary. Courses are free to attend although in some instances there may be a charge for Kit Bundles which include all materials and software needed to complete the course's practical tasks or a participation deposit.


Reel Solutions is very proud to have been delivering film schools to young people in Yorkshire in partnership with the BFI since the start of the BFI Film Academy scheme in 2012 providing the very highest quality film skills training to talented young people aged 16-19. We are excited to extend these filmmaking opportunities and training to a younger age group through our BFI Film Clubs in Scarborough and Bradford in 2021 by providing opportunities to have fun with filmmaking processes, gain confidence, new skills and learn more about careers in our thriving Yorkshire film network, which we are very proud to be a part of. We believe in the next generation, their enthusiasm, their talent and their ambitions and feel hugely privileged to be able to help support and play a role in enabling their dreams, expanding their horizons and experience.

what will i do on the course?

  • Have fun completing daily tasks and filmmaking challenges

  • Learn about claymation and make your own characters from plasticine

  • Be supported to create your own stop motion mini film in a day

  • Get top tips on how to write stories and create your own storyboard

  • Find out more about careers in film from some of the best industry professionals

  • Make a FlipAClip

  • Watch and discuss films

  • Work with sound to make your own soundtrack

  • Learn about shot types and camera movements and angles

  • Connect online using Google Education Suite, Discord and Zoom (it will be useful to have an internet connection and device you can connect to the internet with such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone – if needed, we will work with you to resolve any gaps in home connectivity you may have)

who are we looking for?

We are looking for 20 young people aged 12-15 years old who want to find out more about film and think they might like to try for the first time, or further develop, their filmmaking skills over the Easter holidays – previous filmmaking experience isn’t necessary.

We welcome applications from all young people.

when and where?

The course will run for 7 days online starting on Saturday 20 March with daily sessions from 10am – 3:30pm on Saturday 27 March, Monday 29 March – Thursday 1 April and Saturday 3 April 2021. Applications close at 5pm on Monday 15th March.

how much does it cost?

The course is free to attend. When you join we send out a Kit Bundle which includes model making materials and free personal access to animation software used on the course so that all participants can take part in course activities from home - this costs £20 but if you think you will struggle to pay that, please still apply – if your application is successful, we’ll make sure you can attend and bursaries are available to cover costs.

how do i apply?

There's a simple online form to complete if you would like to apply to the BFI Film Club Bradford. APPLICATIONS FOR EASTER 2021 ARE NOW CLOSED.

applications are now closed for the bfi film club bradford 2021