BFI Film Academy Short Courses

Applications for the 2025 - 2026 BFI Film Academy Film Short Course are now open.

Showroom Cinema works with the BFI Film Academy to help train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers and production crew, supporting 16 to 19-year-olds to develop new skills and gain commercial and cultural knowledge to help build a career in the screen industries. No experience is necessary.

We are searching for talented, enthusiastic and hard-working 16-19 years olds from the South Yorkshire region, to take part in the BFI Film Academy Short Course 2025.

The course is free to take part in, and we have a generous bursary scheme that can cover the cost of travel or access requirements to ensure that the programme is as accessible as possible.

What can you expect from the course?

By taking part in the BFI Film Academy, you will:

Be immersed in all aspects of hands-on filmmaking which will help you to develop your practical knowledge and skills working alongside industry professionals who are respected practitioners in their field.
Gain a real insight into the exciting world of cinema, equipping you with skills and experience that are essential to becoming part of our future film industry.
Watch a range of cinema from British independent to specialised film.
Work in teams on a practical film-based project spread across ten weeks.
Work towards a recognised qualification from NCFE.
Become part of the BFI Film Academy Alumni and access exclusive opportunities, advice and professional development.

Who can apply?

In order to apply to the BFI Film Academy Short Courses you must:

be aged 16 to 19-years-old on the first day of the course (applicants who are in receipt of an EHC plan (an education, health and care plan) may be recruited up to 25 years old)
be a UK resident
have a passion or talent for filmmaking and an ambition to work in the screen industries
be able to commit to the duration of the course
not currently be at university or enrolled at university when the course starts
not have previously enrolled on a BFI Film Academy course

As each course is likely to have more people apply than available places, any evidence you have of your passion or talent will help your application. Every course is open to young people from anywhere in the UK and from any background. No academic education or degree is necessary.

What costs are covered in the course?

The course is completely free to attend and includes:

Tutorage and discussions with industry professionals.

Additional financial support is available to cover other costs if necessary.

Email BFI.Academy@srws.org.uk for more information or to organise an informal chat on how we can support you to attend this course.

Accessibility

We will do our best to support any access requirements to remove barriers that may stop you attending this course.

Email BFI.Academy@srws.org.uk for more information or to organise an informal chat on how we can support you to attend.

What BFI Film Academy alumni say...

We asked young people from our previous courses to share their experience:

Taylor:

"The BFI Film Academy was a fantastic opportunity because it helped me develop my film-making skills and learn more about the film industry. During the course, I made contact with like-minded creatives and found the guest speakers who contributed to the course incredibly informative. I really appreciated the opportunity to have my very first short film screened at the Showroom Cinema and the guidance we received from established local filmmakers was really helpful. The course provided a fantastic platform to share skillsets with others and a recent collaborative project with other BFI students led to my directing and producing a music video which was recently played on BBC Radio."

Dylan:

"The BFI Film Academy has been instrumental in developing my passion for filmmaking. Not only has it taught me the ins and outs of working in the film industry but it has opened many paths for me through career, networking, and mentorship opportunities. I would recommend the BFI Film Academy for anyone considering a future in the Film industry as a brilliant foundation to start from for young, amateur or intermediate filmmakers."

Holly:

"The BFI Film Academy has been one of my most treasured experiences and I’m incredibly thankful for everything it has taught me and all of the people I have met because of it. I have learnt so much about working with new and bigger groups of people, entering the industry and it has really changed my perspective of the path I want to take with my career. It has been so much fun and such a rich, fulfilling learning experience that I will carry with me into my future. I am incredibly proud of everyone on the course for working so hard."

Courses across Yorkshire and Humber

Showroom Cinema is a proud member of the Yorkshire Consortium, offering BFI Film Academy Short Courses throughout Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Discover courses across Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and Scarborough.

Showroom Cinema, Sheffield