BFI Film Academy South West

26/08/2025

🎬 Emerging Young Talent of Somerset

A huge congratulations to Glastonbury-based filmmaker Melissa McCusker, whose original script 'False Premises' has been selected for a 2025 Short Film Commission by Somerset Film in partnership with Watershed Bristol, and supported by BFI Film Academy South West!

Melissa’s film stood out among fierce competition and is now heading into pre-production. She’ll receive:
🎥 A £500 production budget
🎓 Mentoring from an experienced filmmaker
🎬 Access to pro filmmaking equipment

The finished film will premiere this December 2025 at The Engine Room, Somerset Film’s media resource centre in Bridgwater.

This opportunity marks an exciting milestone for Melissa, who is fast emerging as a distinctive new voice in the region’s filmmaking scene, and we can’t wait to see what she creates!

👉 Find out more about Somerset Film’s BFI Film Academy opportunities: www.somersetfilm.com/bfi



BFI Film Academy South West

22/08/2025

Aged 16 – 19 and interested in taking steps to develop a career in film? You don’t need any prior experience in filmmaking.

BFI Film Academy Short Film courses are delivered across the UK, with five hosted here in the South West Region:
Watershed - Bristol
City Eye - Southampton
Somerset Film at The Engine Room - Somerset
Screen Cornwall - Cornwall

Find out more about your nearest course: https://www.watershed.co.uk/film-academy/opportunities/short-filmmaking-courses/

21/08/2025

✨Creative Masterclass with Bad Wolf 🐺!

Bad Wolf's Creative and Commercial Affairs Executive Emma Obank and Producer Flynn MacDonell will share their expertise in high-end television production at the festival this year.

In this masterclass, Emma and Flynn will explore the creative and commercial challenges of producing premium drama for global audiences.

📅Wednesday 25 Sept
📌 Watershed, Bristol

This masterclass is part of the Go West programme, Go West places the spotlight on the South West and Wales.

21/08/2025

“I have been working on many Film and High-End TV productions as a Locations Marshal, such as Young Sherlock, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Other Bennet Sister, and Masters of the Universe, to name a few.

I intend to pursue a career in the Locations department, none of which would have been possible if it weren’t for attending the BFI Film Academy Short Course back in 2022!” - Morgan

We are accepting applications for our next BFI Film Academy short course, apply by 6th October: www.somersetfilm.com/bfi

We always like hearing from our BFI Film Academy Alumni, this is Morgan's story…

"I was lucky enough to be accepted into the BFI Film Academy with Somerset Film in October 2022. I learnt so much from it and met some lovely, like-minded people, some of who I’m still in contact with. This course has helped me grow as an individual and fuelled my passion and motivation further.

Through networking on this course, I had the opportunity to gain work experience as a Location Marshal for a production called ‘Black Cake’ which was being filmed in Wales. It was truly an amazing experience, which solidified for me that I definitely want to work in this industry.

After BFI Film Academy, they signpost you opportunities specifically for BFI Alumni. Through this, I applied for the National Film and Television School (NFTS) Craft Residential in Production Design, which I attended in April 2023. This course helped me discover what areas of the film industry I’m interested in pursuing a career in.

Since then, I have been working on many Film and High-End TV productions as a Locations Marshal such as Young Sherlock, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Other Bennet Sister, and Masters of the Universe to name a few.

I intend to pursue a career in the Locations department, none of which would have been possible if it weren’t for attending the BFI Film Academy Short Course back in 2022!

I cannot recommend Somerset Film enough. Laura and Deb have been absolutely fantastic and extremely supportive over the years! "

BFI Film Academy
BFI Film Academy South West

31/10/2024

Join us next Wednesday for a screening of Polite Society at
Watershed, followed by a Q&A with director Nida Manzoor. Then we are finishing with Creating Action Sequences, a workshop with stunt performer legends Jo Rolison & Ayesha Hussein. Tickets are £3. Get yours now!

Film screening with Q&A followed by a masterclass aimed at 16-24 year olds dedicated to celebrating action filmmaking, with a focus on women in action film and British talent.

03/10/2024

WANT TO BE A FILMMAKER?

Apply for our comprehensive short course in Minehead and learn from industry experts! Script to screen, we've got you covered, start your filmmaking journey with BFI Film Academy!

Applications close midnight on Sunday 6 October →
www.somersetfilm.com/bfi



BFI Film Academy South West

03/10/2024

On Monday (7th Oct, 5-6pm), we'll be running our Intro Webinar for ➡️ Round 3 ⬅️ of the West of England Film & HETV Workforce Development Programme 🎬
If you live in Bristol, BANES or South Glos and want to explore a career behind the camera, make sure you join us!

The Programme supports local people from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the workforce to become 'set ready' for entry level roles. After the Webinar, you'll be emailed the application form👍

30 successful applicants will attend an Industry Induction Day at The Bottle Yard Studios on Thurs 31st Oct, where they'll receive a tour and learn more about the different career specialisms available in scripted film or high-end TV production 🎬

They'll then have the opportunity to apply for a further 5 week training course equipping them with a range of ‘set-ready’ skills, delivered by industry trainers Matt Gras and Cara Bamford (Stepping Up Bristol)🎬

Register for the 7th Oct Webinar here: https://bit.ly/4duFkcb

- with Bristol UNESCO City Of Film, Bristol Film Office, Bristol City Council, West of England Combined Authority

29/07/2024

*** UPDATE*** BFI Film Academy South West have extended the submission deadline to 30th September!

Are you aged under 25 and live in Somerset?
We are commissioning a young filmmaker to produce an original short film!

Pitch your idea to be made into a short film, this must be a narrative fiction piece i.e. comedy or drama (not documentary). By ‘short’ we mean a maximum of five minutes*. It is free to submit your ideas and you can submit more than one.

Apply by completing the online application form and attach either a script or an outline of your idea (sometimes called a treatment) by midnight on August 31st 2024.

More details on our website: www.somersetfilm.com/bfi

Watershed
Shooting People
BFI Film Academy South West

29/07/2024

1 week left until applications close for New Voices: Step Up, a collaboration between the BFI NETWORK & BFI Film Academy teams at Watershed, providing mentoring opportunities for south west-based filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background or who are currently unemployed and claiming benefits.

You must be 18+, based in the south west and out of full time education to apply for NETWORK's spaces: https://watershed.co.uk/filmhub/events/apply-to-new-voices-step-up-2024/

You must be aged 16-25 and based in the south west for Academy's spaces (students welcome): https://www.watershed.co.uk/film-academy/opportunities/apply-to-new-voices-step-up-2024/

Apply by Mon 5 Aug at 17:00.

This summer, in partnership with Watershed and Bristol AF Productions, we’re launching a few mentoring opportunities for filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background* or who are currently unemployed or claiming benefits.

29/07/2024

1 week left until applications close for New Voices: Step Up, a collaboration between the BFI NETWORK & BFI Film Academy teams at Watershed, providing mentoring opportunities for south west-based filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background or who are currently unemployed and claiming benefits.

You must be 18+, based in the south west and out of full time education to apply for NETWORK's spaces:
https://watershed.co.uk/.../apply-to-new-voices-step-up.../

You must be aged 16-25 and based in the south west for Academy's spaces (students welcome): https://www.watershed.co.uk/.../apply-to-new-voices-step.../

Apply by Mon 5 Aug 17:00.

10/07/2024

We're offering newsletter subscribers aged 16-24 a 10% discount to Watershed's run of Crossing, a tender tale of identity, acceptance and unlikely connection that transcends borders and generations. Opening Fri 19 July.

Part of BFI Film Academy Recommends.

BFI Film Academy south west are offering all subscribers to our newsletter (aged 18-25) a 10% discount code to Watershed's screenings of Crossing.

04/07/2024

We are really excited to present present New Voices: Step Up with BFI NETWORK south west.

This summer, in partnership with Watershed and Bristol AF Productions, we’re launching a few mentoring opportunities for early stage filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background* or who are currently unemployed or claiming benefits.

Find out more and apply by Mon 5 Aug.

This summer, in partnership with Watershed and Bristol AF Productions, we’re launching a few mentoring opportunities for filmmakers who identify as being from a lower socio-economic background* or who are currently unemployed or claiming benefits.