BFI Film Academy Labs are events for filmmakers to gain industry insight, get professional advice and support to develop their own filmmaking practices. They are delivered as practical masterclasses, workshops, talks from industry professionals and networking sessions.
See the next upcoming lab below, or check out past events to find recordings of the lab.
Upcoming Labs
(16 – 25 year olds based in South West)
There are currently no upcoming events. Please check again soon!
Past Labs
(Open to anyone)
December Lab: Creative Post Production On A Budget
Join us for December Lab, where we’ll show you how to get creative with post-production without breaking the bank!
May Lab: Why Good People Make Bad Character, Creating Characters for Drama
Our first Lab of the 2024/25 season will help you understand the intricate art of character creation.
Inside Screen 2024
If you’re aged 16 – 25 and are looking to build your networks and gain tips and insights to help you navigate the screen industries – whether that’s TV, film or immersive – Inside Screen is for you.
BFI Future Film Festival: South West Selects
Calling all aspiring and emerging filmmakers aged 16-25, if you’re looking to meet other filmmakers, grow your creative network and get inspired – this is the event for you.
December Lab: Building Your Portfolio
This BFI Film Academy Lab discusses building your portfolio.
Developing Stories for Different Formats
The next BFI Film Academy Lab of the 2023/24 season will be looking to a world beyond traditional cinema and into XR filmmaking
Funding the Short Film
In this session we explored the various funding opportunities available through the BFI NETWORK, a renowned organisation supporting emerging talent in the film industry.
Creative Powerhouses: The Role of Producers in Film and TV
This BFI Film Academy Lab introduces you to the role of a producer.
Developing Your Project and Telling your Own Authentic Stories
This Lab session provided an honest insight into how to lead with your own ideas and voice as a director.
Going Freelance / Setting Up Your Production Company
This second BFI Film Academy Lab of the 2023/24 season will give you a range of perspectives on the benefits, challenges and experience of being a freelancer in the screen industries and/or running a production company.
Career Planning for Screen Industries
If you’re interested in a career in the screen industries but don’t know where to begin, this masterclass can be your first step.
How to Create a Production Budget for your Short Film
The November Lab from the BFI Film Academy team will explore how to calculate and stick to a realistic budget while filming your short.
SCENE at Wellington Film Festival
The first screening of our SCENE programme will be taking place at the end of September in Wellington, Somerset as part of Wellington Film Festival.
Getting your Film into Film Festivals
Together with Encounters Film Festival, we dive into how festivals work, how to find the right one for your film and what programmers look for.
How to Incorporate Action Sequences into Short Films
The BFI Film Academy August Lab will explore how to plan for and incorporate dynamic action sequences into short films.
Why Film Festivals are important for your filmmaking career
Jo in the BFI Film Academy team for a dive into the importance of film festivals for young filmmakers.
Getting Commissioned: Katie Metcalfe in Conversation with Qezz Gill
In this conversation, we’ll hear about Katie Metcalfe’s experience of commissioning and what making commissioned video content involves.
Understanding the importance of Genre for Your Short Film
Following on from their May Lab, the BFI Film Academy will focus on the importance of genre for short films in this session
Developing your Idea into a Winning Short Film Script
BFI Film Academy’s first Lab of the 2022/23 season will explore how to develop and structure your idea into a short film script, in conversation with the award-winning screenwriter and director, Sarah Clift.
On Producing: Emma Grazette in conversation with Oona Chanfi
At this LABS event we’ll unpack what the role of the producer on a film involves and hear Emma Grazette’s tips on how to get started working as a producer.
What Comes After the Festival Circuit?
Your short film has finally screened at a festival. But what happens now that the party’s over?
Presenting Yourself as a Screen Creative
In this online world, image is everything. The ways that you present yourself and your work as a screen professional can make or break your success in the industry. But how do you make sure that you’re putting out the right signals?
On Directing: Sophie Littman in conversation with Grace Morgan
the director is the important person on set and we were joined by Sophie Littman, to discuss what the job is like.
Leader of the pack: Running a set as a director
The BFI Film Academy team were joined by Dan Attias, director of episodes of classic TV shows including The Sopranos, The Wire, Lost, True Detective, and more for a masterclass
On Screenwriting: Zia Holloway in conversation with Yero Timi-Biu
Join us for our Labs event to hear from TV screenwriter Zia Holloway as she talks to Yero Timi-Biu, award-winning short film and TV writer, about all things writing.
Break Into Film: Find Your Route into the Screen Industries in the South West
Our first South West LABS session will explore the routes and opportunities into the Film & TV industry in the region for everyone.
The Future is Now: Shooting a Short Film in 2021
The panel of industry experts explained what an ideal set looks like in 2021, how to make certain you’re following best practices, and more.
Right on the money: Funding your short film
You’ve got the creative vision sorted for your short film, now you’re faced with finding the money, but where do you start?
From dream to reality: Bringing your short film ideas to life
You’ve got an idea that you think might make a great short film, but what are the next steps?
The Beginner’s Guide to the UK Film Industry
The UK film industry is a complex, but once you understand how all the parts fit together, it’s an incredibly rewarding industry to work in.
