The BFI Film Academy is a free filmmaking skills course, delivered at FACT by Let’s Make Films from October 2026 to February 2027. You are part of a group of 20 young people from across the Liverpool City Region, aged 16 to 19, taking part in the course. You have been chosen because of your passion for film.

The course combines hands-on filmmaking sessions delivered in person at FACT, online masterclasses and film shoots on a custom built set. You will gain practical knowledge working in teams to produce your own short film. 

The course will cover scriptwriting, production design, sound recording, camera work, production and planning, film theory, film screening and distribution. Your films will be shown in cinemas at FACT in Liverpool and HOME in Manchester. 

 

FACT Liverpool is the UK's leading organisation for the support and exhibition of art and film that explores new media and digital culture. The award-winning FACT centre opened in 2003 in the Ropewalks area of Liverpool, a hub for independent shops, restaurants, bars, nightlife and galleries. The FACT centre houses three art galleries, four cinema screens, a lab for learning and experimentation, a cafe, and a bar.

www.fact.co.uk

Let’s Make Films (LMF) is a Liverpool-based community interest company dedicated to helping first-time filmmakers turn their ideas into reality. We run workshops, development sessions, and creative events that give people of all backgrounds the skills, confidence, and support to tell their stories. Our mission is to make filmmaking accessible, collaborative, and exciting, while building a strong creative community across the Liverpool City Region.

About you..

If you’ve never made a film or haven’t seen that many, that's okay! This course is all about being curious and honest. Whether you want to create your own work, understand more about careers and roles, or just want to have fun, we don’t mind. Tell us what you want from the world of film, story, and the arts.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly from candidates who have Black, Asian or Global Ethnic Majority heritage, who identify as D/deaf, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and/or who are from lower socio-economic backgrounds. FACT is a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications for anyone who identifies as disabled, D/deaf, neurodivergent or have a long term health condition.

Please complete the form below to check your eligibility and apply to take part in the upcoming Film Academy Hub Introductory Course.

You'll need to fill in all required fields before submitting your form. 

All Film Academy Hub Introductory Courses are free for Hub Members to attend. If you haven't registered with your local Hub yet, don't worry – you'll have the opportunity to join after. We look forward to welcoming you!

Please note: if you'd like to apply for a bursary, we'll send you a more detailed bursary application form once you've confirmed your place on the session. Your answer to this question will not affect the outcome of your application.

It's likely there will be more applications than places. We will select applicants based on their responses and material submitted through this application form. Please use the section to tell us more about yourself and why you'd like to be on this course.

We strongly encourage you to save your supporting statements in a word document and cut and paste them into the application form to avoid losing your work.

 

2026-2027 Course Dates

All sessions will take place at FACT in Liverpool, 88 Wood Street, L1 4DQ, apart from 2 trips to HOME in Manchester.

 

October 

Friday 2/10/2026 - Successful applicants informed

Saturday 17/10/2026 - 09:00 - 17:00 trip to HOME, Manchester (train ticket paid for)

Half-term week Course Introduction and first scene production

Monday - 26/10/2026 - 13:00 - 16:00 - Intro / writing / pitching

Tuesday - 27/10/2026 - 11:00 - 14:00 - Camera / Lighting

Wednesday - 28/10/2026 - 11:00 - 15:00 - Production Design

Thursday - 29/10/2026 - 11:00 - 14:00 - Pre production / Directing

Friday - 30/10/2026 - 10:00 - 15:00 - Microshort film shoot

 

November: Short Film Pre-Production

Monday - 9/11/2026 - 17:00 - 19:00 - Editing

Sunday - 15/11/2026 - 12:00 - 16:00 - Sound & Foley

Monday - 16/11/2026 - 17:00 - 20:00 - Develop film idea & set roles

Saturday - 28/11/20260 - 10:00 - 14:00 - Selecting actors / Pre production

 

December: Production Finalisation

Monday - 7/12/2026 - 17:00 - 20:00 - Script read / Shot Listing / Production masterclass

Saturday - 12/12/2026 - 12:00 - 17:00 - Pre-production / Christmas party

 

January: Filming and Post-Production

Saturday - 9/1/2027 - 11:00 - 16:00 - Set building + development

Saturday - 16/1/2027 - 11:00 - 19:00 - Filming

Sunday  - 17/1/2027 - 11:00 - 19:00 - Filming

Saturday - 23/1/2027 - 11:00 - 16:00  - Editing film

Monday - 25/1/2027 - 17:00 - 19:00 - Review edit so far

Saturday - 30/1/2027 - 11:00-14:00 - Sound design / VFX / Credits

 

February: Celebration Events

Monday - 1/2/2027 - 17:00 - 19:00 - Plan Liverpool screening

Saturday - 13/2/2027 - 10:00 - 13:00 - Screening at FACT Liverpool with friends & family

Saturday - 20/2/2027 - time tbc - Screening at HOME in Manchester (train ticket paid for)

 

The BFI Film Academy will be delivered by the course provider. Your submission of this form to us will constitute your confirmation of the following declaration:

• I hereby confirm that the information I have given in this application is true and correct
• I confirm my availability for the BFI Film Academy as per the dates given above
• I agree that the BFI Film Academy course provider and/or the BFI may, for administrative purposes only, make copies of any material submitted in support of my application.
• By submitting this form, I understand that the Film Academy course provider and the BFI will store and process my data as described below in accordance with professional standards and data protection legislation.
• If under 18 I confirm that my parent or guardian has given me permission to apply to the BFI Film Academy

In order for you to be able to participate in the BFI Academy, the course provider needs to be able to process your personal data as part of the applications, registration, learning support, and awards processes.

• Part or all of the information you give to the BFI Academy Partner will be provided to the BFI.
• The BFI will retain this information following your participation in the Film Academy for statistical purposes only, unless otherwise agreed.
• The BFI may share your name and contact details with a company who helps evaluate the BFI Film Academy. They may contact you to invite you to participate in a survey evaluating the course.

 

The British Film Institute wishes to ensure that all aspects of our work reflect diversity and support equality of opportunity. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to ask you to complete an equality monitoring form.

This monitoring information helps us to identify where there are gaps in our recruitment so that we can work to attract talented people from these groups and areas. It also helps us to ensure that there is no discrimination.

Your cooperation in completing this form is greatly appreciated.

Any information you provide us with will be processed separately to your application to the BFI Film Academy and used for equalities monitoring purposes only.  We use this information to produce anonymised statistical data on equalities, which we may publish and share with the government departments providing our funding.

Please note you will need to return this form as part of your application, providing any of the information requested is optional.

Thank you for completing this application form.

Please click submit and we will get back to you shortly