BFI Film Academy Leeds & Bradford alumni
Are you aged 16-19, interested in a career in film, and considering applying to this year's Leeds or Bradford BFI Film Academy Short Course? Find out what some of our previous participants are up to after finishing the course!
Rose McLaughlin
"I took part in the BFI film academy back in 2014, and I’m still friends with and work with some of the people I met all those years ago. Having the opportunity to learn the ropes of basic production and create our first short film was such a great experience to be offered at that age, and then to have it be screened at a cinema was so exciting.
The BFI film academy really solidified my love for media, and I went on to study Filmmaking at The Northern Film School in Leeds. After uni, those same friends from the BFI film academy and I created several short films together and we created a network of northern filmmakers and creatives.
I now work as a full time videographer for a social agency down in London, and I truly accredit the BFI film academy for teaching me these skills and jumpstarting my career."
Michael Houghton
"The BFI Film Academy was instrumental in my development as a moving image professional. It gave me the freedom to experiment with different roles within the filmmaking process and discover where my strengths lay. Just as importantly, it also introduced me to a network of like-minded creatives - many of whom became my closest collaborators over the following years and are still active in the industry today.
The experience also gave me the confidence to pursue a career in Film & TV, beginning with a degree at University of the Arts London, and eventually leading to my first industry job. I now work at an independent multi-channel production company, where I lead the Online edit across a range of shows for broadcasters including the BBC, Channel 5, and Discovery."
Tom Wright
"I did the BFI Film Academy back during Covid, even despite this barrier it was easily one of the most useful things I've ever done. The industry speakers are brilliant - they gave me genuine and helpful guidance I've used to this day. The network you make is invaluable and, in my case, I continued to work with one or two of them after the course. There's so much to take advantage of and if you have any interest in pursuing a career in film I'd highly recommend this, not just for the time you're there but for the connections and network afterwards."
Gage Oxley
“Leeds Young Film and The BFI Film Academy was the first place where I felt like my voice as a filmmaker truly mattered. Being surrounded by peers who were as passionate about storytelling as I was gave me a sense of belonging and momentum that carried me forward. The Academy opened doors to knowledge, mentorship, and a community that continues to shape my career. It was from that foundation that I founded Oxygen Films at seventeen, determined to tell stories that reflect lived queer experiences and working-class perspectives. More than a decade later, I can trace the confidence and resilience I have as a filmmaker back to those early days with the Academy. It gave me the grounding to pursue ambitious projects, connect with collaborators, and share work on international platforms while still championing creativity in Leeds.”
Sam Judd
"I did the BFI Film Academy back in 2016. Admittedly before then, I did have an interest in film and a very basic knowledge of how the industry worked but it really cemented my love of the moving image, paving the way beautifully for my time at the Northern Film School which I attended between 2016 and 2019. Still to this day I find myself calling upon techniques that I learnt during my time at the Film Academy. I have recently wrapped on the short film My Friend Orson Welles which I wrote, directed and produced. The hope is to now develop it into a feature film. Two people who worked on the film also did the Film Academy with me. To me, making those connections at such a young age was one of the most valuable things the course had to offer. It additionally gave me experience of producing a short film, which has proven invaluable in getting my own projects made but also producing other people’s work which is something I want to get into further in the coming years."
Martin, Zoya and Lizzy
Since taking part in their courses in both Leeds and Bradford, Martin, Zoya and Lizzy just wrapped production on the short film 'My Man', on which they were getting work experience as production runners.
Feeling inspired?
Apply before Midnight, 25th September for the chance to take part in this years BFI Film Academy Short Courses in Leeds or Bradford!