The National Film and Television School (NFTS) is the UK’s leading film academy with campuses at Beaconsfield and more recently Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as satellite offices in Cardiff, Leeds and London. Its remit is to educate the best film talent to the highest professional standard for the screen industries of the future.

Originally named The National Film School, it first welcomed students in 1971, as the culmination of a joint effort between the film sector and the UK government. The goal was to create an exemplary educational institution, fit to train talent for the burgeoning British film industry.

Over the last half century, the NFTS has established itself as one of the world’s best film schools, for which it was honoured by BAFTA with the 2018 Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award. The successful NFTS diaspora spreads far and wide and notable film industry alumni include:

  • Roger Deakins (cinematographer)
  • Lynne Ramsay (writer/director)
  • Nick Park (animator)
  • David Yates (director)
  • Krysty Wilson-Cairns (screenwriter)
  • Nick Broomfield (documentary maker)
  • Terence Davies (writer/director)
  • Beeban Kidron (director)
  • Yann Demange (director)
  • Sarah Gavron (director)
  • Michael Radford (director)
  • Maya Maffioli (editor)
  • Joachim Trier (writer/ director)

The NFTS is also recognised as a centre of excellence for television, games design and development too. More recently, courses have been offered that encompass the commercial business areas of film including marketing, distribution, exhibition and entrepreneurship.

The FDA has been a major supporter of the NFTS for over 25 years, providing sponsorship in excess of £3m on behalf of UK distributors committed to supporting the continual development of new talent. This is in addition to the FDA and its members hosting networking opportunities and providing regular access to industry experts and mentors.

The FDA also operates a bursary scheme to support distribution employees who may wish to take up NFTS training opportunities.

For more information visit NFTS.