BFI launches 12 Film Academy Hubs

The BFI’s flagship skills programme for young people aged 16-25, BFI Film Academy has announced 12 BFI Film Academy Hubs across the UK.

With increased UK Government funding from DCMS, ongoing BFI National Lottery Good Cause funding, and support in the Nations from Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland and the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, the new Hubs are part of BFI Film Academy’s UK-wide offer for 2026-2029.

Free to access, BFI Film Academy Hubs will provide a “unique and flexible ladder of progression for 16-25-year-olds, creating pathways into careers across the screen industries whilst equipping all participants with key transferable life skills to pursue future employment.”

The hubs will be led by the following organisations: BFI Film Academy East of England – delivered by 104 Projects CIC; BFI Film Academy East Midlands – delivered by Broadway Nottingham; BFI Film Academy London – delivered by CTVC; BFI Film Academy North East – delivered by Tyneside Cinema; BFI Film Academy North West – delivered by HOME Manchester; BFI Film Academy South East – delivered by Screen South; BFI Film Academy South West – delivered by Watershed Bristol; BFI Film Academy West Midlands – delivered by Rural Media Charity; BFI Film Academy Yorkshire and The Humber – delivered by Showroom Cinema (Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre); BFI Film Academy Northern Ireland – delivered by Nerve Centre; BFI Film Academy Scotland – delivered by Screen Education Edinburgh and BFI Film Academy Wales – delivered by Screen Alliance Wales.

Each BFI Film Academy Hub will engage with schools, youth clubs, colleges and wider community groups to deliver year-round activity to enable local young people aged 16-25 to gain technical and transferable skills, access careers advice and networking opportunities to support them to pursue a career in the screen and wider creative industries.

Each Hub will deliver Introductory Courses for 16-19-year-olds designed to provide an overview of the film industry with a focus on below the line production roles, screen heritage, exhibition and distribution. Ongoing year-round activity – including networking events and masterclasses – will be open to 16-25-year-olds to offer consistent wraparound pastoral support and guidance. A dedicated Alumni Manager within each Hub will create strong local peer to peer networks and coordinate activity including shadowing schemes, CV workshops, and financial best practice guidance to support new entrants starting out in the industry and encourage retention.

Ian Murray, Minister of State for DCMS, said: “British film is at its best when it tells relatable stories about real lives, and that means the people making those stories need to reflect the country we live in. These nation-spanning BFI Film Academy Hubs will give underrepresented young people the training and connections they need to build a career in film – wherever they live, whatever their background.”

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not, and we need to put that right. These hubs will help close that gap and build the diverse, skilled workforce our film industry needs for the future driven through regional delivery partners who know how to best support their local communities.”

Zakiya Bale, Head of BFI Film Academy Programmes, comments: “BFI Film Academy is excited to work with thousands more talented young people across the UK and build meaningful collaborations with industry leaders over the next three years, helping to shape the future of the UK’s screen sector. This new iteration of the BFI’s flagship programme has been developed to reflect the needs of an ever-changing and fast-paced screen industry. BFI Film Academy Hubs will enable young people from across the UK to explore career pathways and develop the skills most in demand across the sector, whatever their background and wherever they’re from.”