Reel FilmmakinG

about reel filmmaking

Reel Filmmaking is the film skills training arm of Reel Solutions, providing opportunities for young people to have fun with filmmaking processes, gain confidence, new skills and learn more about careers in the UK screen industries, 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. We have been running filmmaking courses since 2012 in partnership with organisations such as British Film Institute (BFI) and Into Film and wherever possible with local partners in order to connect young people with their local film networks.


We delivered film schools to young people in Yorkshire for the British Film Institute (BFI) since the start of the BFI Film Academy scheme in 2011, providing the very highest quality film skills training to talented young people aged 16-19. We extended our reach to Cheshire in 2016 and deliver a BFI Film Academy Short Course in partnership with the Storyhouse in Chester during the October half term school/college holidays which focuses on Virtual Reality (VR) and 360° filmmaking. 


Reel Solutions is a cultural agency based in Yorkshire predominantly working in film. As well as our education work and practical filmmaking courses, we provide guidance and support to a range of local, national and international creative businesses and organisations such as film and arts festivals, commercial and independent cinema venues. We offer a range of services including programming advice, a film booking service, resource packs for teachers and cinemas and CPD training. Other services include evaluation, bid writing, project management services and support with strategic planning. Our clients have included British Film Institute, Into Film, Independent Cinema Office, The Junction in Goole, Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough and Cambridge Film Festival.

We have developed and, in some cases, continue to run our own and partnered projects such as the Manchester Animation Festival, the UK’s largest animation festival; Screenwaves, a rural cinema pilot on the Yorkshire coast which took the big screen to small community venues; and Day Schools, a specialised cultural cinema education programme running in venues and online for those who enjoy watching and talking about film. 


We ran an Academy in Bradford in partnership with the University of Bradford from 2015 - 2023 and BFI Film Clubs in Bradford and Scarborough 2020 - 2023 enabling us to extend filmmaking opportunities and training to a younger age group of 12 - 15 year olds. 

about bfi film club

BFI Film Club is a filmmaking course 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. We were part of the original UK wide pilot for the BFI Film Clubs in Bradford and Scarborough from 2020 - 2023. Building on the success of the BFI Film Academy for 16-19 year olds, the new course was made possible by funding from BFI, National Lottery and the DCMS Youth Accelerator Fund


Our Scarborough BFI Film Club supported young teenagers aged 12 -15 who wanted to find out more about film, careers in the film industry, develop their skills or try filmmaking for the first time.


The course focused on, and encouraged filmmaking activities such as model making; scriptwriting and creating a storyboard; working with sound to make a soundtrack; learning about shot types, camera movements and angles; watching and discussing films and creating mini films in a day and will be delivered by industry professionals, filmmakers and animators.


Leigh Adams, Director of Education and Skills at the BFI, said:

'Through these new BFI Film Clubs we want to inspire the next generation of filmmakers, giving young people who might feel that it's not for them, or that it's an impossible dream, the chance to explore a range of films and other screen-based media, gain a real understanding of what goes into making them, the breadth of job roles available, and the pathways to other BFI programmes where they could learn more. We're delighted to be working with providers across England to offer subsidised opportunities outside of school hours in underserved areas, as well as tailored provision within PRUs. We're grateful to National Lottery players for helping to enable this activity.'

about bfi film academy

Delivered at over 50 locations across the UK and supported by the Department for Education, National Lottery, Screen Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen these introductory hands-on filmmaking courses help train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers, supporting talented and committed young people aged 16 to 19 to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to help make a career in film. 

We currently run a BFI Film Academy  Short Course in Chester which focuses on immersive filmmaking and have an excellent track record of inspiring the next generation of filmmakers, whether you want to take your first steps in film or improve existing skills. As a participant of one of our courses, you’ll gain hands-on filmmaking experience working alongside industry professionals to help develop practical knowledge and skills and learn about the different pathways into the industry. You'll also get the opportunity to work towards gaining a Silver Arts Award.   

No previous filmmaking experience is necessary to attend the BFI Film Academy Short Course

Reel Solutions are proud to support and inspire the next generation of filmmakers and crew. Many of our former participants are now working in a range of roles in film, TV and XR. Participants can join the growing BFI Film Academy alumni with opportunities to access more courses and training opportunities throughout the UK helping boost their chances of breaking into the screen industries. What’s more, our alumni can apply to attend the BFI Film Academy’s intensive specialist courses after completing our courses. These last between one and two weeks and are designed to develop more specialist filmmaking skills. 

Take a look at some of the great short films made by previous participants of our BFI Film Academy Short Courses on YouTube

which courses are you interested in? please click the links below for more information and online application details