Young people across Lincolnshire have been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn the secrets of movie-making success from leading lights of the UK film industry.
The BFI Film Academy Network is designed to revolutionise film training across the country, providing opportunities for talented and committed young people to develop new skills and build a career in film-making, regardless of background.
The University of Lincoln’s School of Media has been selected as one of 24 regional partners to deliver a BFI Film Academy. The University will be working in partnership with CfBT Education Services, creators of the Lincolnshire Awards for Film Teamwork and Achievement (LAFTAs). Together they will play host to 18 budding film-makers during a nine-week academy.
Supported by LAFTA’s patron, the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award-winning actor Jim Broadbent, the partnership provides an exclusive opportunity for 16-19 year olds to benefit from industry-leading expertise in film-making and production.
Born in Lincolnshire, Jim Broadbent is a celebrated film, theatre and television actor whose acting credits include acclaimed appearances in Moulin Rouge, Iris and Bridget Jones’s Diary. He is an active patron for the CfBT Education Services LAFTA Awards, and a supporter of the Lincoln BFI Film Academy.
Academy members were selected from a pool of applicants, having demonstrated a creative aptitude and an enthusiasm for the film industry. Participants will learn about professional techniques, equipment and technologies, and develop an increased understanding of the history, theory and criticism of British and World Cinema. They will also create their own short film, receive the help, support and training required to achieve an Arts Award as part of their participation in the academy, and will have the chance to apply for the National Talent Campus for Film.
Robert Pitman of CfBT Education Services said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people across the East Midlands to develop their skills and connect with one of the most vibrant and dynamic sectors within the creative industry. Building on the successful partnership and collaboration with the University of Lincoln’s School of Media, we are delighted that the BFI Programme will continue the tradition of high quality opportunities for young people, linking directly with the LAFTAs Film Awards and support from our patron Jim Broadbent.”
Sarah Barrow, Head of Lincoln School of Media, adds: “We are absolutely thrilled that our bid with CfBT Education Services to host the BFI Film Academy was successful. This represents recognition of the School’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for film education and training, our commitment to giving young people the best opportunities in film production, and our established work with schools and colleges.
“It is fantastic that teenagers from around the region and beyond will be able to experience the art of film-making and learn from industry-leading experts. We are also pleased to be able to involve some of our existing students in the programme, so that they are able to pass on the benefit of their own experiences and add something really valuable to their own CVs. It will be a wonderful experience for everyone involved.”
Over the next three months, the University of Lincoln and CfBT Education Services will work with the BFI and its strategic partners DfE, BAFTA, Creative Skillset and Pinewood Studios to bring the learning experience to life. The programme will cover every aspect of the film industry, and is designed to enable young people to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to help make a career in film a reality, whether they go on to apprenticeships, employment in the film sector or further learning through Higher Education.
The work created by the academy will be showcased as part of this year’s LAFTAs Film Awards from CfBT Education Services, which will be held on Monday 14th October at The Engine Shed on the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool campus. The LAFTAs, which are now in their seventh year, provide children from as young as four years-old with the opportunity to present their creative work to an audience including patron Jim Broadbent.
Story credits:
Elizabeth Mitchell – PR Officer