Student film introductions gain national exposure thanks to university partnership with the BFI

A partnership between Northumbria University and the BFI (British Film Institute) is giving students the opportunity to share work created as part of a BFI live brief nationally through BFI Player.

Second year students from Northumbria’s BA (Hons) Film and Television Production degree course have worked together to produce a series of short introductions as part of the BFI’s New Perspectives project.

Working in groups over several months, students selected films from BFI Player's extensive subscription catalogue and created introductory pieces which aim to help audiences discover new content, as well as diversify voices on the platform.

This is the second year Northumbria students have taken part in New Perspectives, with six films selected this year to feature on the BFI Player, alongside two from last year, providing introductions to Pusher, Fish Tank, Nosferatu, Tangerine, La Haine, Sonatine, Wings of Desire and Old Boy.

Northumbria is the first university to have student work featured on BFI Player, with the project just one of several initiatives which have taken place over the three years since the partnership with the BFI was formed.

The opportunity to create professional-standard content for a major industry platform has proved popular among students. Henry Barnes, BFI’s Head of Multimedia and James Rocarols, BFI’s Head of Online Programme, supported submissions by reviewing student scripts before they went into production and providing feedback to each group once they were delivered.

Student Grace Beaumont, part of the group introducing the film Fish Tank, said: “We couldn’t be happier to have had this opportunity and be able to see our work on the BFI Player. Having our voice on a platform for anyone to see has inspired us to carry on with our film efforts and has motivated us to express ourselves more in regard to film.”

The partnership between Northumbria and the BFI extends beyond this individual project, providing all Northumbria students and staff with access to their own BFI Player subscription, while also facilitating guest lectures from industry professionals, specialist employability events, and networking opportunities.

It also addresses a critical need in the North East's developing screen sector, with many students facing challenges when seeking industry experience, which is traditionally concentrated in London and the Southeast. This collaboration provides crucial connections to the national film and television landscape while supporting local talent development.

Damien Pollard, Assistant Professor in Visual Communication and Digital Cultures and Academic Lead for the BFI partnership at Northumbria University, said: “This partnership with the BFI brings invaluable industry perspective directly to our students. Having guest speakers who are coming straight off the back of major film releases provides a plurality of perspectives that you simply can't get from textbooks. These industry professionals share individual and unique insights that resonate with our students and help them understand how the real world works – the challenges people face and how they got to where they are.

"What's particularly exciting is seeing how our students' career aspirations evolve. Many come in saying they want to be writers, directors or producers, but by the end they're passionate about roles like script supervision, location scouting, or working in art departments – careers they weren't initially aware of. This is directly down to having industry professionals come in and speak about their experiences.

"For our students, many of whom come from the local catchment area, the BFI partnership is crucial as it provides an excellent way of plugging our students into the bigger national picture, giving them access to opportunities and making industry connections more tangible through guest workshops and speakers with a range of experiences.”

Simone Pyne, Head of Enterprise and Learning Partnerships at the BFI said: “The New Perspectives live brief has been a standout moment in our ongoing partnership with Northumbria University, and we are delighted that this collaboration is set to continue.

“At the core of our relationship lies a shared commitment to enriching the student experience and creating meaningful opportunities for applied learning. The calibre of submissions from Northumbria students reflects the region’s vibrant filmmaking heritage and the university’s dedication to nurturing emerging talent.

“As we enter the next three years of our partnership, we look forward to deepening our engagement with students and contributing to teaching and learning across the university.”

The partnership has facilitated events focusing on career development, environmentally sustainable production practices, and emerging job roles in the sector, helping students understand the rapidly evolving industry landscape.

The success of the initiative has led to the recent renewal of the partnership for another three-year cycle, with exciting plans expanding beyond film studies. Future collaborations will include BFI sessions for History and Creative Writing students and collaborative research projects demonstrating the interdisciplinary value of the partnership.

The New Perspectives films can be viewed at: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/new-perspectives