Behind the Lens: Inside our Summer Film Camp

Every summer, a fresh cohort of young creatives walks into our studios not quite sure what to expect. Two weeks later, they walk out with a finished short film, a reel of behind-the-scenes footage, and a network of collaborators they'll carry through the rest of their careers.

The 2025 Summer Film Camp brought together thirty young people from across South London, ages 14 to 19. Working in teams of six, they moved through every stage of production — from pitch to premiere — under the mentorship of working directors, cinematographers, and editors.

What makes the camp different isn't the kit, though the kit is serious: Sony FX3s, cine-primes, wireless lav packs, a small DIT cart. What makes it different is the trust. From day one, participants own their story. Mentors advise; they don't overwrite.

By the final Friday, six short films screened at the Peckham Levels community cinema to a packed room of families, teachers, and industry guests. Two of the films have since been submitted to youth-strand festivals in the UK and Ireland.

Applications for the 2026 Summer Film Camp open in March. Bursary places are available for every cohort — no young person is turned away for financial reasons.