The British Film Institute (BFI) is expanding its flagship skills incubator, the BFI Film Academy, with the launch of 12 new BFI Film Academy Hubs across the UK. This exciting development aims to provide local provision and devolve funding across the UK, offering young people aged 16-25 the opportunity to gain technical and transferable skills, access careers advice, and networking opportunities to support them in pursuing a career in the screen and wider creative industries.

The 12 new hubs will be led by various organizations, including 104 Projects CIC for the BFI Film Academy East of England, Broadway Nottingham for the BFI Film Academy East Midlands, and CTVC for the BFI Film Academy London. Other hubs will be delivered by Tyneside Cinema, HOME Manchester, Screen South, Watershed Bristol, Rural Media Charity, Showroom Cinema (Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre), Nerve Centre, Screen Education Edinburgh, and Screen Alliance Wales.

The new model will run from 2026-29 and will focus on engaging with schools, youth clubs, colleges, and wider community groups to deliver year-round activity. Each hub will be responsible for curating and delivering introductory courses designed to provide young people with an overview of the film industry, focusing on below-the-line production roles, screen heritage, exhibition, and distribution. Ongoing year-round activity, including networking events and masterclasses, will be open to 16-25-year-olds, and each hub will have a dedicated Alumni Manager.

The BFI Film Academy has been funded through increased investment from the UK Government and ongoing BFI National Lottery Good Cause funding, alongside cash from Northern Ireland Screen, Screen Scotland, and the Welsh Government. Zakiya Bale, Head of BFI Film Academy Programmes, stated that the refreshed BFI Film Academy has been developed to reflect the needs of an ever-changing and fast-paced screen industry.

"BFI Film Academy Hubs will enable young people from across the UK to explore career pathways and develop the skills most in demand across the sector, whatever their background and wherever they’re from," Bale said. Ian Murray, Minister of State for DCMS, added that British film is at its best when it tells relatable stories about real lives, and that means the people making those stories need to reflect the country we live in. These nation-spanning BFI Film Academy Hubs will give underrepresented young people the training and connections they need to build a career in film – wherever they live, whatever their background.

"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not, and we need to put that right," Murray said. "These hubs will help close that gap and build the diverse, skilled workforce our film industry needs for the future, driven through regional delivery partners who know how to best support their local communities."

The BFI Film Academy Hubs will play a vital role in supporting the development of a diverse and skilled workforce in the UK film industry. With a focus on local provision and devolved funding, these hubs will provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed in the film industry.

The BFI has said that each hub will engage with schools, youth clubs, colleges, and wider community groups to deliver year-round activity. This will include introductory courses, networking events, and masterclasses, all designed to provide young people with an overview of the film industry and the skills they need to succeed. With a dedicated Alumni Manager at each hub, young people will have access to ongoing support and guidance as they pursue their careers in the film industry.

The BFI Film Academy Hubs will be a vital resource for young people in the UK, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed in the film industry. With a focus on local provision and devolved funding, these hubs will help to build a diverse and skilled workforce in the UK film industry.