The British Film Institute has funded £179,000 towards Showroom Cinema to develop essential skills for young people wanting to gain film industry experience.
Designed to develop more specialist skills and and build a career in the industry, the funding will mean the independent Sheffield cinema can continue to provide free courses, ensuring young people can take their first step into film.
Victoria Firth, Chief Executive of Showroom Cinema, said: “The screen industry is
increasingly important to the economic success of our region. We welcome the BFI’s
endorsement of Showroom, as an incubator for the next generation of talent, delivering the
skills to succeed through accessible and expert support.”
Since 2013, the British Film Institute’s Film Academy have upskilled more than 800 young people at Showroom Cinema. The latest round of funding is targeted towards courses in Film Archiving and Programming.
Mark Hilton, Chair of the Showroom’s Board of Trustees, said: “This investment backs
Showroom’s ability to develop new screen talent and respond to the changing demands of
the industry. With this support, we will continue to build skills, create clear career pathways, and open doors for the young people shaping the future of South Yorkshire’s screen economy.”
From the scheme, alumni of the BFI Film Academy at Showroom have gone onto work at the BBC, ITV and Sheffield DocFest.
Applications for the BFI Film Academy: Film Programming Specialist Course are open until
midday on Friday 28 February. Working with cinema programmers, distributors, film critics
and other leading industry specialists the cohort of 30 young people will build towards a
weeklong film festival at Showroom in 2027.
Further information can be found at: showroomcinema.org.uk/bfi-film-academy-film-
programming-specialist-course
