BFI Film Academy Premiere 2024-25

QUAD welcomed 19 talented young filmmakers from QUAD’s BFI Film Academy Short Course to showcase their short films to 200 guests at the BFI Film Academy Premiere on 7th February.

Over four months, the young filmmakers at QUAD worked with filmmakers and industry professionals to respond to the theme of identity, using their interpretations to create three incredible short films. This premiere played host to these captivating films for the very first time as we screened: It’s Just Us, Before It Felt Like A Sin, and Pocket Change.  Guests were also treated to an exclusive screening of a Behind the Scenes of the BFI Film Academy mockumentary produced by the students which also showcased their journey on the course with some tongue-in-cheek interviews and footage.

Funded by the British Film Institute and the Department for Education, QUAD is part of the newly established East Midlands Consortium and works in partnership with Broadway (Nottingham), Paradigm Arts (Lincoln), and The Core at Corby Cube (Corby) to deliver the BFI Film Academy Short Course in the region.

The BFI Film Academy Short Course is designed to train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers, supporting young people aged 16 to 19 across the UK to develop the creative, commercial and cultural knowledge and skills to take their first steps into a career in the film industry.

Catriona Kelly, BFI Film Academy Producer at QUAD says:

“We are extremely proud of our BFI Film Academy 2024-25 cohort who, for the four months at QUAD, developed their creative and technical filmmaking skills, pushed their personal and professional boundaries, and collaborated with one another to produce their remarkable short films.  It has been an absolute privilege to work with such a positive and driven bunch and to witness their confidence and creativity grow firsthand.

Our city and region, although often overlooked, is full of so much exciting, undiscovered talent and we are very grateful to the BFI and our wonderful colleagues in the East Midlands Consortium for entrusting us to support and platform the vision and skills of young people who are right here on our doorstep.  We firmly believe in putting young people first and providing opportunities for their creativity to shine.  The BFI Film Academy Short Course allows us to do just that, and the incredible films produced by this year’s cohort demonstrate the importance of providing these opportunities. 

We wish all the students the very best as the take their next step into the film industry and hope they are shouting far and wide about their amazing achievements on the BFI Film Academy Short Course.”

For any aspiring young filmmaker aged 16-19 from September 2025, expressions of interest for the next instalment of the BFI Film Academy Short Course are open now via our online form.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

QUAD is Derby’s central hub for art and film, a mixed arts venue based on the Market Place. QUAD is the city’s cultural hub with a three-screen cinema, an art gallery showing the best in contemporary visual arts, digital workshop spaces plus an award-winning Café bar. QUAD has been at the heart of Derby’s cultural scene since it opened in September in 2008 and is internationally recognised for providing quality and excellence in the Arts. QUAD delivers an exciting, innovative and diverse programme which is popular with visitors of all ages, with a reputation in Photography, digital innovation & family friendly events. The venue organises FORMAT International Photography Festival and Derby Film Festival. QUAD is a partnership between Derby City Council and Arts Council England. QUAD is open daily from 10am, for more information please visit: www.derbyquad.co.uk

For further information please contact press office (press@derbyquad.co.uk) or Marketing & Business Development Manager Beth Towe (betht@derbyquad.co.uk / 01332 285422)