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Launch of Scottish Screen Academy
22/08/2005
A new Scottish Screen Academy, one of seven such
projects being set up across the UK, was launched in
Edinburgh today.
The new Academy will train new filmmakers by
establishing a Masters degree in advanced film practice. It
will also support those already working in the industry
through continuous professional development courses. The
courses will be run by Napier University and Edinburgh
College of Art.
Speaking at Edinburgh's Sheraton Hotel, one of the
venues of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, First
Minister Jack McConnell said:
"This is a very exciting project that I have personally
been interested in for some time. I am really pleased that
we are now in a position to have a formal launch and I
would like to congratulate all of those involved for
turning this aspiration into a reality.
"Scotland has a proud history of excellence in cinema.
Our country has been used as a spectacular backdrop in many
movies and Scottish actors have graced the screen in
countless classics. What we need to do now is to encourage
even more Scots to be successful behind the camera.
"This new academy will do just that. It will train the
next generation of Scottish film makers and support those
already working in the industry. It will help Scots
directors and producers reach the very top of their
profession.
"Good movies made by Scots, starring Scots and filmed in
Scotland, have a huge impact on our economy and our
confidence as a nation. I wish everyone involved with the
Academy every success."
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio
visual industries is an independent UK-wide organisation
that is owned and managed by the audio visual industries
and works with both the industry and government to identify
and tackle the skills and productivity needs of the audio
visual industries throughout the UK.
The Screen Academy Network is being established by
Skillset and will provide superior skills and talent
development, unrivalled anywhere in the world. It brings
the industry and the education system much closer together
ensuring UK film gets the skilled talent it needs for a
strong and healthy business. It will help build an
aggressively competitive industry in an increasingly tough
global market.
The Network is made up of:
- The Screen Academy at the Arts Institute
Bournemouth & Bournemouth Media School.
- The Screen Academy at London College of
Communication / UAL and Ealing Institute of Media /
EHWLC.
- The Screen Academy at Napier University &
Edinburgh College of Art.
- The Screen Academy at The Film Academy (University
of Glamorgan) & International Film School Wales
(University of Wales Newport).
- The Screen Academy at the London Film School.
- The Screen Academy at the National Film &
Television School.
- The Film Business Academy at Cass Business
School.
The Scottish Executive is providing funding of £300,000
over the first two years of the academy.
Napier University and Edinburgh College of Art were
successful after a competitive tender process which opened
in September 2004. Short listed applicants were visited by
the Skillset approvals team and industry practitioners who
interviewed staff and students and toured facilities.
Recommendations as to which applicants met all the criteria
were then made to the Screen Academy Panel, made up of
education and industry representatives, who made the final
approval.