Dreaming of a career in film? This brand new course in Sheffield could be for you!
Applications are now open for an exciting new weeklong training scheme for young film curators in Sheffield, to start this coming February.
The BFI Film Academy Training Course Film Curation and Archiving, delivered by Showroom Cinema in partnership with the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive, is free for creatives aged 18-22.
Johnathan Illot, Head of Programming at Showroom Cinema, said: “Film archives hold some of the most extraordinary stories in our region.
“This course is a rare chance for young people to go behind the scenes, learn from experts and leave with an archive film they’ve curated themselves. It’s free, it’s hands-on, and for anyone curious about a career in film, it could be the start of something big.”
30 successful candidates will visit leading film archives and hear from industry experts, with travel, food and accommodation provided. The course is a great opportunity for networking and gaining essential knowledge for careers in film preservation, film restoration, moving image curation, film festival programming and documentary production.
Candidates will spend a day in York at the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive, to gain further insight into archiving and will take part in technical demos, tours, and practical activities.
At the end of the week, participants will put the skills they have learnt to the test as they receive the chance to curate and edit an archive short film to present to a panel of industry professionals.
Support continues after the seven-day course, as alumni can access ongoing career support up to the age of 25, including drop-in sessions, CV advice and talks.
A 2025 alumni of one of the BFI Film Academy’s previous training courses said: "[The course] opened my eyes to career opportunities, further fuelled my passion to work in the film industry and gave me the confidence and some introductory experience to follow this dream.
“I'll be forever grateful to the BFI Film Academy for these fabulous opportunities and for helping me work towards a career in film".
BFI Film Academy trainees have gone on to work at Warner Bros., Sheffield DocFest, production companies and post-production facilities, and on schemes and apprenticeships with the National Film and Television School and Pinewood Studios.
If you are a young person looking to kick-start a career in film, applications are open now and will close at midnight on Saturday 9 January 2027. For further information, you can join the free webinar on Tuesday 8 December. For full details and to apply, visit: https://showroomcinema.org.uk/bfi-film-academy-training-course-film-curation-and-archiving-2027
