Young filmmakers gather around a camera operator
BFI Film Academy Short Courses

at Watershed, Bristol

Young people gathered around a desk looking at a monitor surrounded by filmmaking equipment

Autumn 2025: Applications now open

The BFI Film Academy Short Course delivered by Watershed in Bristol is back!

The course is for 16-19 year olds interested in developing practical filmmaking skills, finding out about careers in the screen industries, meeting and working with industry professionals, and watching and making films.

Checkout this playlist of films produced last year

The course runs across 10 full-day sessions, on the following dates:

  • Sat 11, Sat 18, Sat 25 October 10:00-17:30
  • Mon 27, Tue 28, Wed 29, Thu 30, Fri 31 Oct (half term) 10:00-17:30
  • Sat 8, Sat 15 November 10:00-17:30

We suggest you prepare your answers first and paste them into the online form. Preview the application questions and guidance notes.

Applications close at 10am on Mon 15th Sept
(you shall hear back from us by Fri 26th Sept)

Course Information

You can expect to:

  • Take part in masterclasses and practical workshops delivered by industry professionals
  • See your ideas develop from script to screen.
  • Learn how to work as part of a production crew to create a documentary short film.
  • Gain skills, networks, support, knowledge and confidence to move forward working in creative media.
  • Have fun, meet great people, watch lots of films.

No film experience needed to apply, just creative ideas and the desire to learn more! Funding is available for travel and childcare.

The filming day was so much fun, I loved walking around Bristol and capturing shots that I see all the time through a camera

I enjoyed the group activities before we made our film, I think it made me feel much more confident and relaxed about the shoot days and working with my group

Short courses are also being delivered elsewhere across the Southwest, in Somerset, Southampton and Cornwall.