Tracey is encouraging all 16-19 year olds who are passionate about film to apply for the Kent BFI Film Academy.

The British Film Institute (BFI), Screen South and The Maidstone Studios have come together once again to create a life changing opportunity to support young filmmakers in Kent. They are looking for 20 young people with a passion for filmmaking and great ideas for short films to take part in the Kent BFI Film Academy. The young filmmakers will be given a chance meet with high end film industry professionals, such as directors, writers and producers, and link in with organisations like BAFTA. The BFI Academy programme will include making at least 2 short films with the support of industry professionals while developing practical filmmaking skills. This is a great opportunity for young filmmakers aged 16-19 in Kent who think they have got what it takes. Those taking part in the Kent BFI Academy also have the chance to apply for the National residential Academies at the National Film School and other great opportunities in Documentary, Animation, Visual Effects and BAFTA mentoring. The Academy programme goes over 8 Saturdays from the middle of October 2016 to the end of January 2017. Young people only have a small admin fee of £25 and bursaries for this fee are available. Bursaries will also be made available for participants if you require assistance with travel, child care or other costs.

Screen South and the BFI Film Academy are working in partnership to help train and inspire the next generation of British filmmakers, supporting talented and committed young people aged 16-19 to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge to help make a career in film a reality. The BFI Film Academy offers training for every film industry role, from writing and directing through to production, sound design, editing and camera, and provides learning around film history and cinematic storytelling to inspire an appreciation of film culture in the round. This really is a first step in to the industry for those young people who win a place.

The Kent BFI Film Academy will run over Saturdays between 15th October 2016 and 28 January 2017 with each young person working towards gaining a Silver Arts Award accreditation. This is a split centre academy – most sessions will be held in Folkestone with a few of the sessions in Maidstone. The programme will culminate in a red carpet screening of the films that are made, which will be a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the young peoples’ talent.

The BFI Film Academy forms a key part of the BFI’s ambitious plans to revolutionise film education for 5-19 year olds, a core aim of the BFI’s Film Forever five year plan to support the future success of UK film. Film Academy funding partners include the Department for Education in England, the National Lottery, Creative Scotland and Northern Ireland. Strategic partners include BAFTA, Pinewood Studios and Creative Skillset, helping to ensure the Academy is a gold standard film industry-focused educational programme. www.bfi.org.uk/filmacademy

Tracey said: “This is a fantastic national opportunity for young filmmakers in Kent to kick-start their career in the film industry and I am encouraging constituents to make their applications and wish them all the best of luck”

BFI CEO Amanda Nevill comments:“The BFI is committed to developing tomorrow’s film audiences and talent and the BFI Film Academy is at the heart of our comprehensive strategy to give young people across the UK opportunities to engage with film.

We’re proud that through the BFI Film Academy young people of all backgrounds are given a springboard to a career in film. Following an enormously successful inaugural year in 2012, the Academy is now establishing itself as a gold standard training and development programme with a vision for future growth. This wouldn’t be possible without the backing of the Department for Education and we thank them and all our partners for their continuing support as we this year take the Film Academy to more people than ever across the UK.”

For further information on how to apply please visit the Screen South website

www.screensouth.org or email [email protected]. Deadline for applications is 12pm on Tuesday 20 September 2016.