Darren Henley Review Welcomed

Recommendations made in an independent review of cultural education have been warmly welcomed by the UK film industry.
Darren Henley’s review puts culture and the arts firmly into education, therefore making them central to the lives of young people. Indeed throughout the review film plays a significant part in the recommendations as does access to learning about culture.
Oscar-winning film director, Tom Hooper said: "It is vital for the future of the British film industry that we nurture the next generations of creative, successful and internationally in-demand filmmakers.
"It is great The British Film Institute (BFI) is giving young people an extra helping hand and budding film professionals the chance to develop their skills and talent. The inspiration to become a filmmaker and the opportunity to achieve it do not always go hand in hand.
The BFI also applauds the approach of Darren Henley’s review and says that access to learning about culture should be available to all UK children and young people, regardless of their background and their new film academies will contribute positively to this.
BFI CEO Amanda Nevill said: "The arts are a fundamental part of a rounded and fulfilled life. Film in particular helps us to better understand the world and our place in it, to appreciate other cultures and other view points. Film is also at the root of one of our most vibrant, growing industries, so the recommendations in the review are an intelligent investment in our future."
The Government’s £3m investment in the new BFI film academy for young people will give talented 16-19-year-olds a unique experience to work and learn with film professionals which will build on the BFI's existing education, talent and skills initiatives across the UK.
The academy will work with schools, colleges and industry to identify and develop young filmmakers and film professionals with exceptional levels of creative talent, technical skills, commitment and tenacity. The academy will operate a year-round programme on Saturdays and in the evenings in local and regional centres with around 5,000 young people. Up to 200 young people will then be selected for a pioneering elite residential filmmaking course. They will learn and develop the technical, curatorial, business and marketing skills necessary for a successful career in film.
The BFI’s looks forward to continuing to work closely with its partner organisations as part of the Cultural Education Partnership Group across the cultural sector to deliver the vision of a rich offer for culture for all young people and to develop a number of the recommendations set out in the report.
The BFI will be providing a more detailed response to the recommendation in The Henley Report in due course.
(LB)