Over the weekend of 18 to 19 February, the BFI will be hosting its annual Future Film Festival, celebrating emerging British film talent with screenings, Q&As and workshops galore. If you’re a movie buff aged between 15 and 25, there’ll be plenty to tickle your filmic fancy. We spoke to the BFI’s Education Programmer Noel Goodwin to find out more…
What's the aim of the Future Film Festival?
To tap into young people's film aspirations by providing inspiring workshops, screenings and masterclasses to give them a greater insight into the world of film. We’ll also be showcasing talented new and emerging filmmakers – such as Tom Kingsley and Will Sharpe who made their BAFTA-nominated debut feature Black Pond on a budget of £25,000 – and providing opportunities for networking and connecting with the industry. To find out more about what’s on, check out the festival programme.
And what does your role involve?
I programme the festival, so I work with a team of young people at the BFI called the Future Film Institute, and with other BFI staff, to decide what sessions we should run, what films we should show and which guest speakers we'd like to invite. And then I bring it all together, managing the organisation of the whole festival.
What are you most looking forward to?
Telling Dexter Fletcher I think his directorial debut Wild Bill is already one of my favourite-ever British films; talking to the young directors of Black Pond and giving out awards for the best short films.
What opportunities are there for IdeasTap members to get involved before and during the festival?
IdeasTap is looking for three members – one cameraperson, one photographer and an interviewer/sound recordist – to work over the two days of the festival as a film crew. If chosen, you’ll go behind the scenes at the festival, interviewing directors, actors and other industry professionals, you’ll receive £50 per day in payment, and the footage you produce will go towards a documentary being made by last year’s Future Film Festival Documentary Award winner. To apply to be part of the film crew, go to the IdeasTap jobs page.
We’re also running a Twitter competition called The Winning Pitch. Tweet @BFI your film pitch in 140 characters or fewer with the hashtag #FFPitch and you could win a chance to pitch to industry professionals at the festival. The best pitcher will win an expenses-paid trip to Europe to attend a filmmaking workshop. Hurry though – the deadline is 5pm on Friday 10 February.
Do you have any advice for young filmmakers?
Get a DSLR. Learn to develop good scripts and ideas; collaborate with other young creatives; keep looking for opportunities and get involved in as much as you can handle – and get on with it!
Head over to our brand new BFI partner page for more information about Future Film.
Are you a budding filmmaker, photographer or presenter? Visit our jobs page to find out how you can be part of the paid IdeasTap film crew that will be covering the festival.