Legendary Director Francis Ford Coppola Inspires Future Filmmakers During Exclusive Visit to the NFTS

This week, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola visited the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Beaconsfield, offering an extraordinary opportunity for the next generation of creative talent to learn from one of the most influential directors in cinematic history.

Consistently recognised as one of the world’s leading film, television and games schools, the NFTS hosted an open forum with the acclaimed filmmaker. Speaking to over 150 students in the School’s cinema, Francis offered unique insights into his creative process, shared career-defining moments, and discussed the challenges of maintaining creative vision in a rapidly changing entertainment industry. With numerous questions from students sparking lively discussion, the engaging and interactive event, ‘In Conversation with Francis Ford Coppola’ concluded with a standing ovation.

NFTS Director Jon Wardle commented: “Francis Ford Coppola’s body of work has inspired generations of filmmakers. His visit this week gave NFTS students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from a true master of cinema.”

With a career spanning over five decades, Francis Ford Coppola has cemented his legacy as one of the most significant and innovative directors in film history. From his Academy Award-winning The Godfather trilogy to the epic Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker’s Dracula to The Outsiders, his work has not only shaped the cinematic landscape but has also left an indelible mark on the global stage.

His latest film, Megalopolis is a deeply personal project decades in the making and continues his tradition of visionary storytelling. With an all-star ensemble cast, including Adam Driver as a modern-day architect and idealist, the film explores themes of power, transformation and the creation of a utopian city, echoing the grand ambitions of a Roman Caesar.

Francis Ford Coppola’s visit is part of the NFTS’s ongoing commitment to providing world-class education and developing connections between its students and industry leading lights. The School has produced alumni who have worked on some of the most acclaimed films, television and games of recent times and remains at the forefront of nurturing global creative talent.

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