Breaking Down Financial Barriers Through National Film And Television School Funding

Here at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), we are committed to making our world-leading training accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances. Did you know that the NFTS offers more than £1 million in scholarship and bursary funding annually, demonstrating its commitment to supporting British students? Don't let financial barriers hinder your potential, funding offered by the School have paved the way for a huge number of success stories!

Scholarship recipients have gone on to work at prestigious global production studios, direct acclaimed TV shows such as Top Boy for Netflix, and contribute to visual effects on global hits such as House of the Dragon. Recent NFTS graduates Yasmin Afifi (Directing Fiction MA) and Elizabeth Rufai (Producing MA) were each the recipients of a BBC scholarship. While training at the NFTS they conceived, directed and produced the BAFTA award-winning short film, Jellyfish and Lobster, which is now being developed into a feature film in partnership with BBC Film.

"Jellyfish and Lobster was such a huge project. Winning the BAFTA for Best Short was absolutely crazy. Along with the producer and the director, we were all scholarship students,” shares Production Management graduate Diana Duah who now works for Element Pictures, producers of the Oscar winning Poor Things. "I felt like if I want to go to film school, what is the best film school in the country? NFTS came up tops."

Many students have faced significant financial challenges in pursuing their dreams. "I was so happy when I got on the course, but quite quickly, I realised that I probably wouldn't be able to afford it, and that was devastating," recalls director David Winstone whose path to the NFTS Directing Fiction MA was unlocked by funding from the David Lean Foundation. Since graduating, David has been working as second unit director on shows such as Criminal Record for Apple TV.

Another former student is Myriam Raja who went on to direct the final series of Top Boy. "I grew up in an area where it wasn't really normal for young South Asian girls to choose this as a career path. I knew I would not be able to afford it, nor would my parents. Thankfully, I did get scholarships and help—that's the only reason I was able to go. I really felt empowered by everything I learnt at the NFTS.”

The NFTS provide a diverse range of scholarships and funding, ensuring that students from all backgrounds and in MA and Diploma disciplines can thrive. Thanks to our partnerships and through funds raised at events such as the annual NFTS Gala, 9 in 10 UK students have benefitted from scholarships in the last year.
 

Reflecting on her journey into the industry following training on the NFTS Visual Effects MA, VFX Supervisor Gillian Simpson, says, "Growing up on a farm in Scotland, I didn't really think (the creative industry) was an option. My time at NFTS was great. I threw myself into it completely.” She further notes, "I've worked on things like House of the Dragon, which has been amazing; a real dream come true."

The BBC, Netflix, IMG Studios, UK Cinema Association, All3Media, BAFTA, Creative Scotland, Warner Bros. Discovery, Pinewood and Leverhulme in addition to many other organisations, have contributed vital funding to support students from diverse nationalities, ethnicities, and regional backgrounds. The Toledo Scholarship supports new British voices and talent from underrepresented backgrounds in the UK, donating £325,000 to 35 individuals since its inception in 2005.

Kate Stonehill, who benefitted from a scholarship shares: "It was an incredible two years at the NFTS. I just finished directing my first feature documentary, which has had a theatrical release with Picturehouse and we're going to screen the film in Parliament."

Nelson Asare, a recent graduate of the Directing and Producing Television Entertainment MA adds, "I worked on Strictly Come Dancing as an assistant producer, which is really enriching."

Emphasising the importance of accessibility Diana Duah adds: "I think the saddest thing is people who don't even consider applying because they just assume they can't afford it, and that's a whole class of person the (industry and NFTS) is missing out on."

Miriam Raja closes with: “The NFTS is basically a training ground for the future of cinema in this country and the future of our industry, and to invest in it is so important.”

Take the next step towards your dream career at nfts.co.uk/places-available and find out more about funding available at the NFTS here: nfts.co.uk/scholarships