8 Future Film Makers Selected for Competitive Film Academy

8 GC film studies students were selected for the British Film Institution 16-19 Academy, a competitive and highly sought after academy for aspiring film makers

Based in Leeds, the academy runs various different workshops with leading professionals in the industry including producers from the BBC and Ladbible. The workshops allowed students to explore a range of different aspects to film making including directing, filming, editing and sound, as well as providing the opportunity to use state of the art industry standard filming equipment. 

The workshops all led to a pivotal point in the academy – Film Week. Each student had the opportunity to write their own screen play and two were selected to be made into films during film week. The young film makers spent the week producing the two films during October half term, where they each had an important role to play. The week concluded with a film premier, showing the two films produced at the Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds.

Following the premier the students have the opportunity to gain a Level 2 qualification in ‘Working in Film Industry’ along with 6 UCAS points. They can achieve this by submitting a portfolio of work in which will be assessed by the exam board.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the students involved, particularly as they all aspire to go on to study Film at University.

Each of the students spoke enthusiastically about the academy, describing it as ‘insightful’, ‘educational’ and ‘fun’ and said they would definitely recommend it to anybody interested in film production.

A huge well done to the students, Aruan Lima Santos, Archie Barker, Tom Smith, Molly Kehoe, James Ince, Joseph Heppenstall, Marlene Dodd and Sarah Hargreaves, on this excellent achievement.