BFI Film Academy Hub West Midlands, home
Delivered by Rural Media

Stoke & StaffordshireIntroductory Course

Learn Film Skills on Your Own Film Set

  • Free and hands-on: join the crew and try out different roles with people from the film and TV industry.
  • Together you'll make a short film, celebrate it at a screening and plan your next step.

Applications open on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

Register Interest
A BFI Film Academy crew at work in a lit hall: one kneeling behind a camera rig, one holding a boom microphone, and a presenter reading from a script at a mic stand.

Delivered by Rural Media with Junction 15 Productions

Course Dates

Six course days and a celebration event, from Tuesday 12 January to Friday 29 January 2027.

Training Days

  1. Day 1

    Tuesday 12 January10am to 4pm

    Introduction, Crew Roles and the Brief

    Meet your crew, find out how a film set runs and get the brief for the film you'll make together.

  2. Day 2

    Wednesday 13 January10am to 4pm

    Crew Roles and Production Recap

    Try out the roles on a film crew, then go over the plan for the shoot.

  3. Day 3

    Thursday 14 January10am to 4pm

    Camera, Sound, Art and Rehearsal

    Get hands on with camera, sound and art department kit, then rehearse the scenes.

Production Days

  1. Day 4

    Tuesday 19 January8am to 5pm

    Production: Your First Day on Set

    Shoot the film as a working crew.

  2. Day 5

    Wednesday 20 January8am to 5pm

    Production: Wrap Day

    Back on set to finish the shoot and wrap.

Edit and Celebrate

  1. Day 6

    Monday 25 January10am to 4pm

    Post-Production Editing Session

    Work on the edit and see your footage become a finished film.

  2. Celebration

    Friday 29 January6.30pm to 9pm

    Screening Celebration

    Celebrate your finished film on screen, hear from a panel of Film Academy alumni and crew and meet people from the industry.

*Course dates may change.

We’ve Got You Covered

  • Food Included

    Food and drink are on us every course day.

  • Transport Bursary

    Help with the cost of getting here. Just ask us.

  • Neurodivergent Friendly

    Learn and work in the way that suits you.

  • Accessible

    Tell us what you need and we'll plan it in with you.

  • Supportive

    A friendly team backs you all the way through.

  • Learning Together

    Build your skills side by side with your crew.

Who Is This Introductory Course For?

  • Aged 16 to 19 (25 with an EHCP)

    Your age on the first day, 12 January 2027.

  • Live in Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire

    Including Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford, Leek and Tamworth.

  • Curious About Film

    You love films and want to know how they get made.

  • Build Film Skills

    We bring the kit, the training and a crew. You bring the interest.

  • Weekdays Open

    Most sessions run on weekday daytimes. If your weekdays are open, it fits.

  • Take Your Next Step

    We'll help you find your way into the film and TV industry.

Live somewhere else in the West Midlands? See all Introductory Courses.