EXCLUSIVE: BFI Film Academy and partners, including Amazon MGM Studios, Aardman, Framestore and Lucasfilm, will offer 120 fully paid professional development trainee placements and 885 places across 12 free training courses as part of its expanded 2026-2029 offer.
From 2027, BFI Film Academy will support 18-25-year-olds to participate in six-month professional development programmes providing four months of tailored training culminating in paid six-week placements.
Amazon MGM Studios, BFI Filmmaking Fund, Framestore and Lucasfilm have committed to providing sponsorship for the programme and will host paid trainees.
The Film Academy has an overall budget for 2026-29 of £12.3m, from BFI National Lottery Good Cause funding and increased UK government investment from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It is the first time the government has committed to a three-year funding structure, with previous support allocated year-on-year.
The new provision will almost double the number of young people accessing specialised training via BFI Film Academy over the next three years.
The 12 free training courses cover areas including animation, camera and lighting, costume and VFX, with 295 places available each year across three years for 16-22-year-olds, an expansion from the previous specialist courses for 16-19-year-olds.
The residential courses will be delivered across the UK with accommodation costs fully covered and travel bursaries available. Delivery partners include London Screen Academy, Showroom Cinema - Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre and Aardman Academy.
Ambitious expansion
The BFI Film Academy launched in 2012 to support young people from underrepresented backgrounds to access training in below-the-line and wider screen roles, supporting over 11,000 young people to date.
“The launch of our vocational BFI Film Academy Training Courses and professional development programme, in addition to the UK-wide Film Academy Hubs announced this summer, represents an ambitious expansion of this long-running programme to ensure a greater diversity of young people are reached and supported to develop the skills and networks needed to build a career in the UK’s screen sector,” said Sara Whybrew, BFI director of skills and workforce development.
“The government’s increased investment and strong backing from industry partners is helping BFI Film Academy nearly double the number of young people it supports around the country, giving them the skills and training they need to build lasting careers in the sector,” added Ian Murray, creative industries minister.
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