Young filmmakers Premiere their work at QUAD in February

Students from the BFI Film Academy Showcase 2022-23 presented a Premiere screening of their films in QUAD on Saturday 4th February 2023.

The invite-only premiere screening event included three short films produced by this year’s cohort from Derby’s BFI Film Academy. The films were: The Monster Downstairs, Run Away and Mould as well as directed by QUAD Young Advocates Behind the Scenes of BFI Film Academy at QUAD. Over 100 people attended the premiere event, including the fifteen successful 2022-23 Film Academy students, their family and friends, as well as QUAD staff and industry professionals, including from Nottingham’s Film & Television Workshop. The awards were presented by QUAD trustees, Mark Gregory (Chair) and Education representative Ashok Venkatesh.

Funded by the British Film Institute, this is the third year QUAD has delivered the BFI Film Academy course. Designed to nurture, train and inspire the next generation of UK filmmakers, QUAD’s BFI Film Academy supports young people aged 16 to 19 from the Midlands region to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge and skills needed to help forge a career in film. Over the four-month course, the young filmmakers develop their own stories and scripts, adapting a selection of these into short films which are then produced by the group.

As well as becoming a BFI Film Academy Alumni with access to exclusive opportunities, advice and professional development, students gained an Arts Award accreditation.

Chris Bevan, BFI Film Academy Course Leader Derby said “This is my second year working Course Leader at QUAD and I’m delighted to say that our current students have achieved an incredibly high standard of work. This year our students have achieved excellent results with three ambitious, bold and hard-hitting films, reflecting an impressive level of maturity and creativity. Additionally, the group have worked towards their Silver Arts Award qualification through development of an online portfolio which showcases their journey as filmmakers. I’m excited to see how our filmmakers progress beyond the course as they enter the film industry and begin to access support as alumni through the national BFI Network. They should all be incredibly proud of their efforts and I wish them nothing but the best of luck as they continue to move forward and establish themselves as the next generation of Derby filmmaking talent.”

Chris added “The BFI Film Academy is an incredible opportunity for anyone aged 16 to 19 years who are enthusiastic about filmmaking to get practical, hands-on experience, whilst meeting industry professionals and being introduced to new skills to give them a great launchpad into a career in the film industry.”

For further information about the next BFI Film Academy please email filmacademy@derbyquad.co.uk

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

QUAD is Derby’s centre 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 http://twitter.com/derbyquad For further information please contact QUAD’s Marketing & Audience Development Manager, Kathy Wilson on 01332 285422 / kathyw@derbyquad.co.uk