Diversity at the National Film and Television School
A look into the National Film and Television School's continued drive towards maintaining and improving an inclusive environment.
A Love Story director Anushka Naanayakkara and NFTS Crew BAFTA 2017 (2017) by GUY LEVYNational Film and Television School
The NFTS is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which everyone feels valued and where the distinctive contributions of each individual are recognised. We believe that when we create a culture where everyone is welcome and feels comfortable being themselves, then we create an environment where people can do their best work.
NFTS ARC Banner (2021) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
The School launched its Anti-Racism Commitment in 2020, working to ensure that the NFTS reflects the full diversity of the UK and that our students and graduates are seen, heard and represented across all areas of the industry in which they work and shape.
1 in 4 of our recent graduates are from ethnically diverse backgrounds versus only 3% in the industry overall. We are working hard to increase this number through our dedicated national outreach programme AccessNFTS.
Shola Amoo signing Last Tree Poster (2019) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
The NFTS provides over £900,000 of scholarships and bursaries each year and awards more funding to British students. Since the inception of the Toledo Scholarship, which enables talented newcomers from the UK’s ethnic minorities to join the British film industry, 30 scholars have benefitted from over £300,000 of funding
Shola Amoo, Segun Akinola, Antonia Lowe, Mdhamiri A Nkemi (2019) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
This has enabled them them to study a wide range of specialist film, television and games courses at the NFTS. Previous Toledo scholars include writer/director Shola Amoo (The Last Tree), editor Mdhamiri Á Nkemi (Blue Story) and producer Kurban Kassam (Ginger and Rosa). Here from the Toledo Scholarship recipients in the video below.
In October 2020, the NFTS announced a major new partnership with the BBC to include a newly developed scholarship scheme enabling up to 20 diverse students to benefit from the high quality teaching at the school, and strengthen the off-screen diversity talent pipeline.
The NFTS announced a new partnership with the BFI to deliver a programme of activity that aims to increase access to world class industry education. The Early Stage Access and Diversity Accelerator Programme, is supported by the BFI through National Lottery funding, will help to ensure the UK remains a world leader in the global entertainment industry, addressing the skills gap by widening access to learning opportunities and embedding diversity and inclusion at the heart of the venture.
Alice Seabright, 2nd from left, and her team on short film End-O by NFTSNational Film and Television School
The Diverse Directors Workshop was a groundbreaking scheme which ran over three successful years, launching in 2017. Alice Seabright (pictured 2nd from left) was one of the directors on this scheme). The aim was to increase the number of women working in screen direction as well as people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.
Birthday Boy Poster (2021) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
Our student, staff and alumni body is diverse not only in themselves, but in the work that they create. 2020 Bridges to Industry film Birthday Boy is an LGBT+ funded short film supported by the NFTS.
The film tells the story of a transgender boy at an all-girls school who is finding it difficult to find a community. The majority of the crew involved in the film identifies as LGBTQ+ and worked hard to break the negative stereotypes around screen representation of transgender characters.
At the NFTS, 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. Adaptations are made throughout the School to meet each individual’s unique requirements and ensure students can complete their studies successfully. At the NFTS we value difference and the richness it brings to the stories we tell.
NFTS Graduate Rienkje Attoh (2021) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
NFTS students (now graduates) Ebele Tate, Marcus Thomas and Danielle Goff created a short film, Perspectives, in response to an invitation to create a short promo reflecting on diversity and inclusion.
Shola Amoo & Segun Akinola (2019) by NFTSNational Film and Television School
It features NFTS graduates and staff talking about their personal experiences and showcases the value of difference as well as the need to continue to promote the importance of inclusion and representation across the industry. See it below.
