Photography, Film & TV
From your first short film to a career behind the camera — over 800 courses across the UK
The UK is one of the world's leading centres for film and television production. From Pinewood Studios to the BBC, from Oscar-winning animation houses to the booming indie scene, the industry employs over 180,000 people and contributes billions to the economy. For young people with a passion for storytelling, visual creativity, or technical craft, there's never been a better time to get started.
We've catalogued over 800 courses from 24 providers across the UK, covering everything from free Saturday clubs for 11-year-olds to world-class Masters programmes at the National Film and Television School. Whether your child wants to direct, write, animate, edit, or perform on camera — there's a course for every age, budget, and ambition level.
What Can Young People Learn?
Film and TV production is a collaborative art form with dozens of specialist roles. Courses in this category cover both creative and technical disciplines:
Directing
Lead a creative vision from script to screen — fiction, documentary, animation, or TV entertainment.
Screenwriting
Craft stories, develop characters, structure scripts for film, TV, and stage.
Cinematography
Master camera operation, lighting, composition, and visual storytelling.
Editing & Post-Production
Shape raw footage into finished films — pacing, sound design, colour grading, VFX.
Animation
Bring characters to life through stop-motion, 2D, 3D, and digital animation techniques.
Producing
Manage budgets, schedules, crews, and the business side of getting films made.
Acting for Camera
Screen performance technique — different from stage acting, focused on subtlety and naturalism.
Sound Design
Record, edit, and mix audio — dialogue, sound effects, Foley, and atmospheric soundscapes.
Our Providers
We work with 24 providers offering film, TV, animation, and photography courses. Here's the full list ranked by number of courses available:
| Provider | Courses | Location | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Film and Television School | 280 | Beaconsfield + Leeds, Glasgow | 16+ |
| Pauline Quirke Academy (PQA) | 170 | 150+ locations nationwide | 4-18 |
| Sparks Film School | 144 | Multiple UK locations | 5-17 |
| Zylo Performance | 83 | London & South East | 6-18 |
| Roundhouse | 33 | Camden, London | 11-30 |
| London Film Academy | 20 | Fulham, London | 13+ |
| London Film Works | 20 | London | 18+ |
| The Courtyard Hereford | 19 | Hereford | All ages |
| Young Film Academy | 17 | London | 7-18 |
| BBC Film Production Club | 7 | Various | 16+ |
| + 14 more providers | 38 | Across UK | Various |
| Total | 831 | 24 providers | |
Featured Providers
National Film and Television School (NFTS)
The UK's leading film school, based in Beaconsfield with hubs in Leeds and Glasgow. Offers 280 courses from 2-year MFA programmes to bite-sized online workshops. Alumni include Oscar winners Roger Deakins (cinematography) and Nick Park (animation). Their NFTS Academy targets talented filmmakers aged 16-19.
Directing Fiction
National Film and Television School
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Collaborate with students across the School as you make several films and work on practical projects, putting into practice the craft of directing fiction.
Directing Animation
National Film and Television School
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The course encompasses both the artistic and commercial worlds of animation — graduation films have won BAFTAs, Oscars, and premiered at Cannes.
NFTS Academy
National Film and Television School
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For talented filmmakers aged 16-19 — a stepping stone into professional film education at the UK's top film school.
London Film Academy (LFA)
A registered higher education provider in Fulham, London. Offers BA (Hons) Filmmaking, MA Filmmaking, MA Screenwriting, plus short courses in directing, cinematography, producing, and screenwriting. Their Young Filmmakers' Academy runs during summer holidays for ages 13-17.
Filmmaking Certificate
London Film Academy
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Gain a practical introduction to the full filmmaking process — collaborate with a small team to create a short film in just four weeks.
Young Filmmakers' Academy
London Film Academy
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A hands-on introduction to practical filmmaking for ages 13-17. Write, shoot, and edit your own films using professional equipment.
Sparks Film School
One of the UK's largest dedicated film schools for young people, with 144 courses across multiple locations. Offers term-time clubs, holiday courses, and intensive workshops for ages 5-17. Students learn directing, camera work, editing, and storytelling through hands-on filmmaking projects.
Sparks Film Club (Term-time)
Sparks Film School
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Weekly filmmaking club where young people write, direct, film, and edit their own short films. Work in small crews with professional equipment.
Sparks Holiday Film Camp
Sparks Film School
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Intensive holiday filmmaking courses — make a complete short film in one week. Covers all roles from director to editor.
Roundhouse (Camden, London)
The Roundhouse's youth programme offers 33 classes across drama, theatre, film, animation, and music production for ages 11-30. Most courses are heavily subsidised or completely free — making professional-quality creative education accessible to all young people in London.
Animation Club
Roundhouse
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Learn stop-motion animation — come up with an idea for a film and bring it to life with professional tutors from the award-winning Rainbow Collective.
Film & TV Skills Boost: Camera, Lighting and Sound
Roundhouse
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Hands-on workshop to practise camera operation, lighting, and sound skills. Guided by film and TV professionals.
Courses by Age Group
There are film and TV courses available for every age group, from young children making their first stop-motion animations through to adults pursuing Masters degrees:
🧒 Ages 4-10
Introduction to storytelling, basic camera skills, and creative play through film. PQA Poppets (ages 4-6) and Sparks Film School junior clubs offer age-appropriate filmmaking experiences.
Providers: PQA (nationwide), Sparks Film School, Young Film Academy
🎬 Ages 11-14
More structured filmmaking — writing scripts, operating cameras, editing footage, and working in crews. Free options available at the Roundhouse (Animation Club) and Sunderland Culture (Young Film Makers Club).
Providers: Roundhouse (free), Sunderland Culture (free), PQA, Sparks Film School, Zylo Performance
🎥 Ages 15-18
Intensive courses and academies preparing for further education or industry entry. The NFTS Academy (16-19), LFA Young Filmmakers' Academy (13-17), and Roundhouse workshops offer professional-level training.
Providers: NFTS Academy, London Film Academy, Roundhouse, PQA, BBC Film Production Club
🎓 Ages 18+
Degree programmes (BA, MA, MFA), professional certificates, and short courses for career changers. The NFTS offers 280 courses alone, plus London Film Academy, London Film Works, and many more.
Providers: NFTS (280 courses), London Film Academy, London Film Works, Roundhouse, community film clubs
Why Film & TV?
Beyond the creative fulfilment, film and TV production develops a remarkable range of transferable skills:
Storytelling
The foundation of all filmmaking — structuring narratives, building tension, creating emotional impact.
Collaboration
Film is a team sport. Every production requires dozens of people working together towards a shared vision.
Technical Literacy
Camera operation, editing software, sound recording, lighting — practical digital skills for any career.
Problem Solving
Every shoot throws up unexpected challenges. Filmmakers learn to adapt, improvise, and find creative solutions.
Communication
Directors must articulate their vision clearly. Producers must negotiate. Writers must convey emotion through words.
Resilience
Films rarely go to plan. Young filmmakers learn to handle setbacks, iterate, and keep going until it's right.
Career Pathways
Film, TV, and photography offer diverse career paths. Here are some of the most common routes, with real salary data from the Office for National Statistics:
Photographer
Commercial, editorial, portrait, or event photography
Range: £20.4k - £32.1k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Assisting → Junior photographer → Established photographer → Studio owner
Camera Operator / Cinematographer
Capturing moving images for film, TV, and online content
Range: £20.4k - £32.1k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Runner → Camera assistant → Camera operator → DoP
Film/TV Director
Leading creative vision from script to screen
Range: £26.2k - £45.7k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Short films → Music videos → Commercial work → Feature films / TV drama
Video Editor
Assembling and refining footage into finished productions
Range: £22.2k - £33.8k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Assistant editor → Editor → Senior editor → Post-production supervisor
Producer
Managing budgets, schedules, and production logistics
Range: £26.2k - £45.7k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Runner → Production coordinator → Line producer → Producer
Graphic Designer / Animator
Creating visual content, motion graphics, and animation
Range: £24.1k - £35.6k
Source: ONS ASHE 2024
Key Skills
Typical Route
Junior designer → Designer → Senior designer → Art director
Salary data from Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2024
Find Film & TV Courses Near You
Over 800 courses from 24 providers — from free community clubs to world-class film schools.
