YORKSHIRE teenagers with a passion for cinema are being offered the chance to sign up for a film school next year.

The BFI Film Academy Leeds will run for three months from January 2015 to train the next generation of British filmmakers, enabling them to develop the commercial and cultural knowledge to make a career in film a reality.

Students will gain invaluable skills by working alongside industry professionals and one-to-one mentors, who will guide, inspire and support in person and online.

The programme allows young filmmakers to collaborate, learn and hang out with each other using Google Applications for Education. Participants will learn the necessary skills to make their own short films in Leeds during the February half-term for screening at the Leeds Young People’s Film Festival next April.

The course offers training for every film industry role, from writing and directing to production, sound design, editing and camera, plus learning based around film history and cinematic storytelling to inspire an appreciation of film culture.

Participants will start to build contacts, gain practical knowledge of different areas of the industry and acquire the inside track on funding, promoting, exhibiting and distributing their films.

Leeds teenager Gage Oxley is tipped for success in the film industry after taking part in this year’s BFI Film Academy Leeds.

"The Academy was not only a fantastic opportunity to make a film using top-of-the-range equipment and meet industry experts who gave real, not sugar-coated, advice," says Gage, 17, who is completing production on his first feature film, Into Dust.

"One of the greatest things it gave was the opportunity to meet people of the same age who are just as passionate about film as I am; not only great people to have helping on set, but genuine friendships and contacts have been made.

Zoe Naylor, from BFI Film Academy Leeds, says: “We’re thrilled to be running the third BFI Film Academy in Leeds in 2015. It’s a fantastic opportunity for young people in the Yorkshire area with a passion for film wanting to pursue a career in the film industry.

"Students will have access to our excellent e-learning framework, which has been recognised by Trinity College, London for its innovation and supportive mentoring."

The admissions policy is very inclusive, stresses Zoe.

"So long as you’re committed, eager to learn and have substantially contributed to the making of at least one film already, just fill in the application form and send us a link to your film," she says.

"We take at least 18 promising young filmmakers. Successful applicants will have shown outstanding promise in their film adventures to date. There’s a small nominal charge of £25 to join, but we won’t turn anyone away based on an inability to pay. Bursaries are available; please ask."

Applications for the BFI Film Academy Leeds 2015 open on Monday (September 1) and close on November 20. Apply online at betafilmworks.org or find out more by contacting Zoe by email at zoe@reelsolutions.co.uk