Please note that this call out is now closed.

Want to make your own short film?

FACT and Let's Make Films are looking for young filmmakers aged 16-19 to take part in a free film academy, supported by the BFI. The academy takes place between October 2025 and February 2026, 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, with opportunities to join in with activities across Manchester and the North West.

Sessions will take place at FACT on Monday evenings, with some extended sessions on weekends and during half-term for filming and editing.

Interested? Read on for more information. 

To apply, please complete this form by Sunday 28 Sept 2025, 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.

Where and when?

All sessions will take place at FACT in Liverpool, 88 Wood Street, L1 4DQ, apart from:

• Thursday 30th of October which will be a visit to a film/tv shoot location
• Saturday 29th of November and sessions 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th of January will be film shoots on location in Liverpool.

The BFI Film Academy course will take place on the following dates:
 

OCTOBER

Monday 6 - Successful applicants informed

Monday 20, 17.00 - 18.30 - Kick Off meeting 

Saturday 25 - morning (TBC)  - NW Consortium launch day at HOME in Manchester (times TBC)

HALF TERM WEEK INTENSIVE COURSE INTRODUCTION:

Monday 27, 11.00 - 14.00

Tuesday 28, 11.00 - 17.30

Wednesday 29, 11.00 - 14.00

Thursday 30, 11.00 - 17.00 (a visit to a film/tv shoot location)

NOVEMBER

Saturday 8, 10.00 - 13.00

Monday 10, 17.00 - 20.00

Saturday 15, 10.00 - 13.00

Monday 24, 17.00 - 20.00

Saturday 29, 10.00 - 15.00 (on location in Liverpool)

Sunday 30, 10.00 - 15.00

DECEMBER

Saturday 6, 10.00 - 16.00 

JANUARY

Saturday 10, 10.00 - 16.00

Saturday 17, 10.00 - 18.00 (on location in Liverpool)

Sunday 18, 10.00 - 18.00 (on location in Liverpool)

Saturday 24, 10.00 - 18.00 (on location in Liverpool)

Sunday 25, 10.00 - 18.00 (on location in Liverpool)

Saturday 31, 10.00 - 15.00

FEBRUARY

Sunday 1, 10.00 - 16.00

Monday 2, 17.00 - 20.00

CELEBRATION EVENTS

At FACT Liverpool TBC

At HOME Manchester  TBC

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 28 Sept 2025, 23:59.

Complete form

We’d like to know why you’d like to take part and what you’re currently up to, and to share 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.