Student filmmakers are the future of the film industry and we believe it is critical to use our access to connect these talented students with industry professionals and foster a community of education.
All student filmmakers who are selected to be on the Student Film Award Shortlist are invited to attend classes and events in New York and Los Angeles.
These events are designed to help students network, learn from filmmaking veterans, and familiarize them with the world of Hollywood.
Studio Tours and Master Classes
Once our finalists are flown into Los Angeles, we take them on a tour of LA including studios, production companies, agencies, and of course, a few tourist stops. We utilize our industry connections through our membership to give the filmmakers, many of whom are visiting Los Angeles for the first time, an overview of how Hollywood works, providing venues for networking and the sharing of expertise through seminars, parties, special screenings, and meetings. Our student filmmakers are also invited to attend filmmaking masterclasses designed to give the students an in-depth look at a certain filmmaking topic. Last year, LAIKA hosted an animation masterclass right here at the BAFTA LA offices.
BAFTA/Jamie Simonds
Briefings, Insights & Power Meetings
BAFTA Briefings are a speaker series in New York and Los Angeles, where a successful member of the entertainment industry speaks about their career development in front of an audience of emerging filmmakers. Past guests have included Larry Wilmore, Gale Anne Hurd, Celine Rattray, Ron Yerxa, and Sam Bain.
BAFTA Insights are interviews held in front of a theater audience with a high profile member of the industry; past guests have included Cate Blanchett, Tom Ford, and Gary Oldman.
BAFTA Power Meetings allow groups of three shortlisted filmmakers speed-network with four industry luminaries for 15 minutes each, over the course of an hour.
Getty Images for BAFTA LA
BAFTA-GSA Commissioning Grant
New in 2019, we are introducing the BAFTA-GSA Commissioning Grant. This grant will be awarded to a script or proposal for a short film on the subject of mental wellness. This allows the BAFTA Student Film Awards to, for the first time, offer the funds to a Shortlisted filmmaker and school to complete a short film.