training & development training There are thousands of courses and funding opportunities available to help you acquire the skills to make your film.

Courses in filmmaking range from four-year degrees to one-to-two day workshops. They can be as broad as Media Production or as specific as Romantic Comedy. You may also be eligible to receive some financial support towards a training course. (see later in this section and ask the course providers themselves).

One of the most comprehensive sites for finding out about the various media courses on offer is: www.bfi.org.uk/education/...

This website has been put together by Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, which is jointly funded by industry and government) and by the BFI (British Film Institute). This directory lists over 6000 courses in film, television, video, radio and web authoring that are running across the UK. It is regularly updated and checked for accuracy and you can search or browse the directory to find the course that is right for you.

Equally, Skillset's own website has a wealth of information on training courses with everything from subsidised courses, accredited courses and approved training providers; the Skillset/BFI training course database; support for freelancers and training providers; health and safety training information; and schemes targeted at new entrants to the industries provided.

Another useful resource, from a slightly different angle, is the Media Desk website: www.mediadesk.co.uk

In its training section, Media Desk presents a full list of pan-European training courses, sorted by deadline or course focus. By clicking on a course name, users can access a full breakdown of what each course contains, as well as contact details, links to the website, course costs and information on filmmakers who have attended in the past.

As well as these national websites, you are also able to cross-reference these databases with training offered via your regional screen agency. Each local screen agency has training as an objective and will be able to offer information and advice from a local perspective.

A number of the courses on offer, particularly the pan-European and New Technology courses, have an online learning element. This means that, in addition to residential workshops, there are learning options that run via the Internet. So you can be based anywhere and simply go online to participate in a workshop. The Media Desk website identifies whether the courses on offer have an online element, but you could also try: www.bbctraining.com/...

There are lots of training bursaries available to help individuals meet the costs of certain media courses on offer.

If you are working as part of an organisation then you should read more on Skillset's Film Skills Fund: www.skillset.org/film/funding/about. This prioritises particular areas of the industry like Business or New Media, and offers financial support for courses in this realm. NB - as noted above, this scheme is for organisations and not for individuals.

Grants are also available for individuals and freelancers in the form of Screen Bursaries, which can provide up to £800 to spend on training if you are a freelancer and up to a maximum of £500 if you are in permanent employment. See the Skillset website for more information on Screen Bursaries: www.skillset.org/film/funding/bursaries

Locally, a filmmaker may be eligible to apply for financial assistance for training courses via their regional screen agency (see our filmmaking guide on related links: funding -UK screen agencies).

The British Council-run site for filmmakers, Britfilms.com, has a handy filmmaker resources and information section which includes information about training organisations, courses, workshops and careers advice.
Britfilms.com: training

For other course directories, organisations offering training and links to screen agencies see our related links: training

D&AD Global Student Awards We showcase the winning student films from the D&AD awards 2007.

NFTS Graduation Show 2007 Sample some of the work from the NFTS (National Film & Television School) Graduation Show 2007.

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