BFI Film Academy to expand with 12 new skills hubs across the UK

The British Film Institute said it will launch 12 new BFI Film Academy Skills Hubs across the UK as part of a refreshed Film Academy programme for young people aged 16 to 25. Deadline reported the expansion as exclusive, describing the hubs as an additional layer within the BFI’s existing skills-incubator model designed to develop early-career talent in filmmaking and related disciplines.

BFI said the refreshed approach will focus on local provision and on devolving funding across the UK, according to the report. The stated emphasis on local delivery is intended to bring the Film Academy offer closer to where young people live, rather than relying on a more centralized model for access to training, mentoring, and production-related experience.

Deadline reported that the 12 hubs will be led by partner organisations, with the BFI Film Academy framework supporting a networked delivery model. Under the approach described, regional partners are expected to align training and activity with local needs while operating within the broader objectives of the Film Academy programme.

The announcement also positions the Film Academy Skills Hubs as a continuing effort by the BFI to build a pipeline for creative careers, particularly for participants entering the sector at a formative stage between education and early professional work. The 16-25 age range is central to the programme’s public-facing purpose, as described in the report.

The BFI has framed the hub expansion around strengthening access to film-focused skills outside London and the South East, with the devolved funding element pointing to changes in how resources are allocated for training and delivery across devolved administrations and English regions. The report did not provide a breakdown of the hub locations or specific funding levels.

With the hubs set to roll out through partner-led provision, the next steps for applicants and families will depend on when local hub programmes open for applications and what each partner organisation offers in practice, including the mix of workshops, mentoring, and practical production opportunities. The BFI’s public communications for each hub are expected to set out eligibility, timelines, and any participation requirements.

The expansion arrives as cultural institutions continue to place emphasis on skills development and workforce pathways in creative industries, including the practical, production-adjacent capabilities that often determine whether new entrants can translate training into sustained progression. The Film Academy Skills Hubs are designed to function as those bridges, with the BFI overseeing the programme concept while regional partners deliver locally.