Please note that this call out is now closed.
Want to make your own short film?
FACT and First Take are looking for young filmmakers aged 16-19 to take part in a free film academy, supported by the BFI. The academy takes place over 3 months, where you'll work alongside fellow young filmmakers and a range of industry professionals to make a short film from start to finish.
You will learn everything about development, production, post-production and distribution as you are guided through the filmmaking process. The academy will take place at FACT and online, with opportunities to join in with activities across Manchester and the North West.
Sessions will take place at FACT on Monday evenings and online on Wednesday evenings, with some extended sessions on weekends and during half-term for filming and editing.
You will also receive a Silver Arts Award qualification when you finish.
Interested? Read on for more information.
To apply, please complete this form by Sunday 15 September, 23:59.
What's Involved?
As part of a group, you will help make:
- 2 micro-short films (think TikToks and Reels)
- 2 short films (each up to 10 minutes long)
To do this, you will learn about and try your hand at screenwriting, camera operating, sound recording, directing, art design, editing, producing, sound design and composition, special FX, location scouting, film programming and distribution.
To find out more about any of these roles, check out this guide to working in Film and TV.
At the end of the academy, you can invite your friends and family to watch the films you have made at two celebration screenings, premiering your films at FACT in Liverpool and HOME in Manchester.
When?
Sessions will take place at FACT and online on the below dates:
IN PERSON
Mondays, 17:00-19:00:
September 30
October, 7, 14, 21
November 4
December 2, 9
Weekends, 13:00-17:00:
October 5
November 9-10 or 16-17
December 14-15
January 18
Half Term, 13:00 - 17:00:
October 28-30
ONLINE
Wednesdays, 17:00 - 19:00:
October 16, 30
November 13, 27
December 11
January 15, 22, 29
February 5
CELEBRATION SCREENINGS
FACT Liverpool - Monday 27 January
HOME Manchester - Thursday 6 February
Who is it for?
This academy is for anyone aged 16-19 years old, living in the Liverpool City Region and not attending university. We will support anyone who needs it with their travel costs to and from sessions. You don’t have to have any film-making experience or be studying art, media or film.
We’re particularly keen for people who don’t see themselves represented in Film and TV to take part. We will make every effort to support those with accessibility requirements.
How to Take Part?
If you’re interested in taking part, tap on the link below to fill out a form and tell us a little more about you.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 15 September, 23:59.
We’d like to know why you’d like to take part and what you’re currently up to, and to share one or two links of things you’ve seen that you like (TikToks, Reels, music videos, YouTube clips, films).
If you’re interested in writing, you can also share an idea for a film in up to 200 words (this can just be notes or bullet points), or you can share all of this as videos or voice notes if you’d prefer.
This film academy is generously supported by the BFI, through a brand new partnership between HOME (Manchester), FACT (Liverpool), Touchstones (Rochdale), Aunty Social (Blackpool) and Signal Film & Media (Barrow-in-Furness), with local support from additional partners such as The Reporters Academy (Salford) and First Take (Liverpool).
