Founded in 1963 by Reginald Johnson, Bournemouth Film School began as a pioneering Cine pathway within what was then the Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design. The school is part of Arts University Bournemouth, a public university established in 1880 that specializes in art, architecture, film, performance, and design. With over 60 years of excellence in film education, BFS has established itself as a creatively led, industry-focused institution that operates purpose-built, industry- standard studios. The school maintains strong industry connections and has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted since 2018, while the parent university has achieved Silver and Gold rankings from the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Bournemouth Film School has received two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes – first in 1998 for “Education in the film industry” and again in 2017 for “distinguished degree-level education in costume design for the UK’s leading creative industries.” As a full member of CILECT, the international association of film and television schools, BFS maintains global standards of excellence in film education.
The school operates across multiple state-of-the-art facilities including the main Wallisdown Campus with 14 specialized buildings, Elliott Road Film Studios, and the
recently acquired Palace Court Theatre, a 1930s art deco venue with 550 seats in Bournemouth town center. Students benefit from purpose-built studios and workshops that mirror real-world industry conditions, producing over 70 film, theatre and dance productions annually.
Arts University Bournemouth alumni include BAFTA and Academy Award-winning filmmakers, as well as a Turner Prize recipient, demonstrating the school’s success in preparing graduates for the highest levels of creative achievement. The collaborative approach ensures students work across multiple productions, building comprehensive industry experience and professional networks.
In 2022, BFS launched ‘Funding Futures’, a groundbreaking platform of rolling funding schemes for filmmakers, creatives, artists and innovators. The initiative includes the Alumni Film Fund, which creates live professional projects where current students work alongside alumni and industry professionals. The school’s 2023-2024 collaboration with BFI Network Southwest on a Director Talent Hub represents a first-of-its-kind partnership in regional filmmaker development.
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