NFTS Scotland announces first courses

Applications are now open to be among the first intake of students at NFTS Scotland, the National Film and Television School's new branch based north of the border, which will operate from BBC Scotland’s studios in Glasgow. The new courses, announced today, are described as being “specifically designed to meet the growing needs of film, television and games production companies and independent practitioners across Scotland.”

The first new course at NFTS Scotland is How Stories Work in Documentary. Running 30 April to 4 May, it will be led by Peter Dale, NFTS's co-head of documentary, who has produced and directed documentaries for the BBC, and comissioned films from the likes of Kim Longinotto, Nick Broomfield and Molly Dineen while he was Head of Documentaries at Channel 4.

Further courses include Directing the Short Film (11-12 June) and Directing the Comedy Film (13-14 June) led by Col Spector, director of Honeymooner and Someone Else; a course focused on using celluloid called 16mm/35mm Familiarisation (3-7 July) and a two week intensive course called Writing the TV Pilot, which is designed for applicants interested in developing and writing  drama series for the small screen.

The inception of a Scottish offshoot of the UK's national film school coincides with a planned increase in BBC Scotland's output. Last year BBC director-general Tony Hall called this investment in BBC Scotland, which is suggested to amount to around £40m a year, "the biggest single investment by the BBC in broadcast content in Scotland in over 20 years." This investment includes a whole new TV channel – BBC Scotland – which is set to start broadcasting in autum this year. “As the industry in Scotland grows, it’s crucial we have people ready to fill employers’ needs across very specific roles,” said Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

One of the most encouraging aspects of this announcement is that NFTS Scotland appear to have made diversity and inclusion a key priority. The aim, we're told, is that one third of all places handed out in NFTS Scotland’s first two years will be bursary-supported. “It is exciting to see the first courses from NFTS Scotland open up a new route to give people from all backgrounds an opportunity to learn essential specialist skills in film and television,” added Hyslop.

To register for courses, apply for bursaries and find out more information, head to www.nfts.co.uk/scotland