BFI Film Academy Short Course Programme delivered by Broadway (now closed)

BROADWAY TRAINS AND INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS.

As an established regional delivery partner for the BFI Film Academy Short Course programme over the past 12 years, Broadway has supported and nurtured 232 aspiring young talents from diverse backgrounds in taking their first steps towards a career in the Film & TV industry as part of our prestigious course!

APPLICATIONS OPEN ON 6 AUGUST AND CLOSE ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2024 AT MIDNIGHT. ELIGIBILITY APPLIES - SEE BELOW FOR FULL DETAILS.

Our programme offers an inclusive and creative experience through a bootcamp-style, 4-week process that includes hands-on practical and theoretical filmmaking masterclasses, workshops, lectures, and labs.

During their time on our course, participants work towards completing the Silver Arts Award qualification as part of the national Short Course programme.

We introduce participants to departments and roles such as; Screenwriting, Camera, Sound, Lighting, Directing, Production Design, Producing, Assistant Directing and Editing.

Award-winning tutors and guest speakers who work full-time in the Film and TV industry are invited to deliver our bespoke programme. Some of these professionals are past participants of BFI Film Academy Short Course at Broadway and have since progressed in their screen industry careers.

After developing their knowledge and practical skills, course participants team up to produce two short films, each taking on a vital production role over a two-day period, with emerging acting talent from The Television Workshop.

Want to be part of the next generation of filmmakers?

This summer, Broadway is looking to recruit 20 aspiring filmmakers from Nottingham to take part in our upcoming 2024-25 BFI Film Academy Short Course programme, which will take place this autumn!

Our course will be held outside of school hours, running over the October 2024 half-term, with additional sessions extending into 2025 as part of the East Midlands consortium.

Course Dates and Times

The official dates and times of scheduled activities are linked below—applicants must be able to attend all sessions

WATCH OUR PAST BFI FILM ACADEMY SHORT FILMS

Discover the creativity of previous BFI Film Academy participants by watching the short films they have crafted, showcasing their passion and storytelling talent on film.

A chance to see your work on the big screen at Broadway

The films collectively made by the course participants will be screened for family and friends here at Broadway in January 2025.

Broadway is the lead partner of the East Midlands Short Course consortium and is proudly partnered with Quad in Derby, Paradigm Arts in Lincoln, and our new delivery partner, The Core at Corby Cube in Corby.

As part of the new consortium, Broadway and its partners will bring their 2024-25 cohorts together at Broadway to screen all the films made during the Nottingham, Derby, Corby, and Lincoln Short Courses, as part of an industry and networking celebration event in March 2025.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

AM I ELIGIBLE?

Interested applicants should be able to comply with the BFI’s set criteria:

• Be aged 16 to 19 years old on the first day of the course
• Be a UK resident
• Have a passion or talent for filmmaking and an ambition to work in the film industry
• 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 (Short or Specialist)

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

The course is completely free to attend! We also offer an array of bursaries to participants who wouldn’t be able to attend the upcoming Short Course programme otherwise.

If you have the passion and talent, we’ll make sure you can attend. Details regarding the bursaries offered will be sent to successful applicants once they are accepted into the programme.

HOW AND WHERE DO I APPLY?

Applications for Broadway's 2024-25 programme open on 6 August and close on 15 September 2024. We will not accept applications after this date.

In the online application form, applicants will have the opportunity to share their creative aspirations and talent by providing supporting statements and links to examples of their previous work. Please note there is a limited word count.

We urge applicants to be aware that there will be more applications than places available. It is a highly competitive process, as we will only recruit 20 successful applicants. Therefore, we encourage participants to sign up for and attend the available information sessions to get further details about the course and tips for their application.

COMPLETE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION FORM HERE

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

We welcome all interested young people, parents, and educators who are eager to learn more about the upcoming BFI Film Academy 2024-25 Short Course programme at Broadway, to attend one of our free information sessions this summer!

Upcoming Information Sessions:

Tuesday 10 September 5:30 - 6:30PM - For interested applicants across the East Midlands

Thursday 12 September 4:30 - 6PM

If you are not based in Nottingham but are in the East Midlands, check out our webpage for the East Midlands consortium where you'll find more information and relevant links to the appropriate delivery partner. 

Registration is required and closes at 3pm on the day of the scheduled information session. Limited places available.

For further details and how to book, follow the link here 

I Work For An Education Centre or Charitable Organisation, How Can I Share This Opportunity?

On request, tutors, heads of year, teachers or those who work with young people, can book an in-person visit to your premises for us to host an information session delivered to your group of interested students/young people.

If you would like to organise a visit from Ella Townsend to your premises, please directly contact Ella at filmacademy@broadway.org.uk to arrange this before applications close on the hard deadline of Sunday 15 September 2024.

What pathways have Broadway's previous alumni taken after participating in the BFI Film Academy Short Course?

Course lead of Broadway’s BFI Film Academy Short Course - Ella Townsend champions the professional and creative development of Broadway's past participants, and helps to guide our alumni through their journey into the screen industry during and upon completion of the course.

Alumni pathways include paid traineeships on major international Feature Film & TV Pinewood Studio productions, including:

• Lucas Film and Disney+’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Willow, Andor and Cruella.
• Warner Brothers’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• EON Production’s Bond: No Time To Die
• Netflix’s Matilda The Musical

Alumni have also been exclusively recruited as crucial members of crew on local and national TV productions such as:

• ITV’s Without Sin
• BBC’s The Gallows Pole and soon to be released Boiling Point
• Channel 4’s 24Hours in A&E based in Nottingham & George Clarke's Amazing Spaces
• Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
• Sky’s Brassic

BFI Film Academy Short Course delivered by Broadway Cinema on behalf of Film Hub Midlands is supported by the Department for Education in England and the National Lottery, Screen Scotland and Northern Ireland Screen.