Diversity
The NFTS was established by the Government to be the UK’s ‘national’ film and television school, a centre of excellence to develop the talent that will shape Britain’s cultural life and fuel the worldwide success of the UK creative industries.
It is a role we take very seriously. We want the British film, television and games industries to reflect the full range of voices and experiences of modern Britain. That is why we take diversity seriously and why we are committed to creating an inclusive environment in which everyone feels valued and where the distinctive contributions of each individual are recognised.
Diversity statement
For us, valuing diversity means appreciating the many advantages of drawing on the talents, skills, experiences, different cultural perspectives and backgrounds of diverse students and workforce, and the benefits of everyone's contribution to the School. It means behaving in a way that promotes respect for individual differences, and the treatment of each person based on their own merit.
The NFTS is an equal opportunities employer and does not unfairly discriminate with regard to staff, students and freelancers on the basis of race, ethnicity, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, education, experience, opinion, belief or any other factor.
We believe that diversity helps to enable success for our employees and our students.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
Annual Equality Summary
Student selection
Students are assessed as individuals according to their relevant skills, abilities and merits and all have equal access to learning opportunities within the School. We are actively seeking to redress imbalances within the Industry by encouraging dynamic people with appropriate talents and skills to apply, whatever their ethnic or national origin, age, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs.
If you have a disability
We want to support talented people who have creative vision, imagination and new ideas, none of which has anything to do with physical ability or fitness. We encourage any disabled applicants to contact us at the earliest opportunity to discuss their requirements.
Diversity Programmes at NFTS
Content Tabs
The Prime Video Directors Workshop is a groundbreaking 12-month course designed specifically to increase the number of people from under-represented groups working in screen directing. Taking the form of an intensive training course in narrative filmmaking, the six participants selected to take part will each create their own original short film during the workshop, which will welcome a new cohort in May 2022.
If you are currently working professionally in screen directing and want to advance your career to the next level, the Prime Video Directors Workshop is the opportunity for you! Find out more on our Directors Workshop page.
NFTS, in partnership with Channel 4, is looking for applicants from diverse backgrounds to enrol onto its Directing Fiction or Cinematography MA courses. The bursaries are particularly aimed at people with disabilities, and people from ethnically diverse or socially disadvantaged backgrounds as these groups are underrepresented in television directing.
The Channel 4 bursary scheme is open to eligible applicants who are accepted onto either our Directing Fiction or Cinematography MA courses.
All3Media, one of the UK's largest independent television, film production and global distribution companies, and is the official course partner for our ‘TV Drama - Creating the Bible’ Certificate Course. All3Media will provide a scholarship for one student from an ethnically diverse background and will get first refusal on all scripts produced by students on the course.
The All3Media Scholarship is open to eligible applicants who are accepted onto the TV Drama - Creating the Bible’ Certificate Course.
Toledo Productions supports diverse new British voices and talent. The Toledo Scholarship was established in 2005 by one of the world’s most successful producers and NFTS governor Duncan Kenworthy (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill) to enable talented newcomers from the UK’s ethnic minorities to fast-track their ambitions and join the British film industry. Since its inception, over 30 scholars have benefitted from £300,000 of funding including writer/director Shola Amoo (The Last Tree) and producer Kurban Kassam (Ginger and Rosa). More information is available on our Toledo Scholarship page, where you can see how it has helped British Black and Ethnic Minority students successfully train at the NFTS.