Northumbria University and BFI launch cultural partnership to support North East film industry expansion

Northumbria University has joined forces with the BFI (British Film Institute) on an “ambitious” partnership that will provide networks, insight and experience with moving image culture and the screen industries for staff and students across the University.

The BFI will work with Northumbria on projects including live briefs, masterclasses and curriculum development for undergraduate and postgraduate arts and humanities students. More details on these will be announced over the coming months.

As part of the new agreement, all Northumbria students and staff will be able to stream “critically acclaimed classic, cult and archive films”, including specialist collections curated by the BFI, such as Black stories, LGBTQIA+ and visionary directors on the award-winning BFI Player.

On a wider level, Northumbria will work with the BFI to support the expansion of the screen industry in the North East.

Film industry figures and BFI leads will visit Northumbria to meet with students, local talent and industry organisations and specialist employability events will be held to connect Northumbria students to BFI staff and industry networking opportunities.

Simone Pyne, senior business development manager at the BFI, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Northumbria to enrich learning and embed moving image culture throughout the university with BFI Player and our upcoming projects.

“A robust and meaningful relationship between higher education and industry is critical for the future success of film and high-end television, and together we’ll develop transferable and industry specific skills, helping to address the UK’s screen skills shortage.”

Professor Katy Shaw, director of cultural partnerships at Northumbria University, added: “Northumbria is delighted to launch this national partnership with the BFI. Preserving, producing and promoting film and television is core to our activities in teaching and research within the creative industries in the North East today.

“As a result of this partnership, we will be offering student live briefing learning opportunities alongside industry experts, workshops and masterclasses.

“This new national partnership will create a much-needed talent pipeline to address a creative industries skills shortage, training the best new screen talent, in the North, for the global screen industry.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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