A Film and Theatre project Wigan, United Kingdom
The British Youth Film Academy was established to provide a solid link betwen the commercial film industry and all branches of media education. Our films have been proudly distributed and screened/broadcast internationally. Unique to BYFA, students between the age of 14 – 25 work with professional film makers to produce a full length feature film.
The experience and knowledge students gain whilst making their feature film is invaluable, furthermore, the students also benefit by obtaining their first film credits which are attractive to potential employers.
Combined with our positive and fun approach to the film making process, our philosophy of learning whilst doing and a hands on approach to the film making experience, BYFA allows students to work in a variety of different departments in both production and crew nurturing all levels of talent, including: camera, grip, music, art, costume, performance and post-production. We believe in a hands on approach and only work using professional film equipment – we have been privileged to have been sponsored by many well-known companies over the last few years.
Because of the BYFA a lot of our students have gone on to work in the film and TV industry whilst others have used the opportunity to enhance their showreels and better their own personal knowledge of the industry.
The best thing about our films is that they are made by our students!
Because of the BYFA’s USP we have proudly worked with a number of colleges and students not just from the UK but internationally and we continue to grow every year. With these creative and talented students over the last 10 years the BYFA has successfuly made over 18 exciting feature films in a variety of genres.
We do a call out for scriptwriters to submit a unique feature film script with an expected viewer rating between PG – 15. Our 2014 film, ‘All the Ordinary Angels’ is currently on the film market and last year’s film ‘Hamlin’, a coming of age film set in a haunted music academy, is set for its cast and crew premiere in March 2016! We have also had success with ‘Rochdale Pionners’ being screened on Film4.
This year’s film is a comedy/horror genre film titled ‘Hellions’ and will be filmed in Wigan and surrounding areas in July and August 2016. It will receive its cast and crew premiere screening early in 2017 in Manchester so you’ll be able to see for yourself the fruits of your support!
By supporting the BYFA you will be supporting the next generation of film makers and storytellers. But more importantly, as an organisation we believe that the BYFA is also about learning very important key skills that students may not obtain in other educational environments, so as well as all the creative aspects students will learn with us they will also gain confidence in public speaking, team leadership, crucial decision making and planning skills.