The Young Film Academy Podcast

Young Film Academy

The Young Film Academy Podcast is essential listening for young people looking to find their way into the creative industries. We chat with industry professionals who've worked on the biggest TV shows and movies, demystifying their job role, uncovering how they broke into the industry and learning what they did during their teenage years to set themselves up for success.

  1. 3D AGO

    ALL STARS SPECIAL - Young Film Academy Awards BIG Showdown / Celebration Special

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas reflect on the incredible Young Film Academy Awards All Stars event last month and listen to exclusive interviews with students and industry professionals who attended the awards and also judged the categories, including Top Gun Maverick & Mission Impossible editor Eddie Hamilton, film critic and Girls on Film podcast host Anna Smith, along with film animal trainer and handler Grace Dickinson.  About YFA Awards ALL STARS: On Saturday 28th February 2026, Young Film Academy hosted a once-in-a-generation showdown, bringing together standout filmmaking talent from across our programmes since 2016. Nominees and their guests joined us for a spectacular evening of red-carpet glamour, industry insiders, show-stopping prizes and an afterparty to remember — all at the historic Genesis Cinema in London, where Charlie Chaplin famously performed. The best films and performances from 10 years of the annual YFA Awards went head-to-head to claim an ALL STAR title, and the million-dollar question was finally answered – what is the best YFA film EVER made? 10 years, 10 categories — judged by star-studded industry professionals, including Jamie Campbell, Executive Producer of Netflix smash-hit Sex Education and an Audience Award for Best Comedy, decided by YOU.  Students past and present had the opportunity to reconnect, network and meet their next filmmaking collaborators. This milestone event was testament to YFA’s commitment to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and a showcase of the astounding work they produce.

    58 min

  2. JAN 28

    Sue Quinn — HARRY POTTER Locations Manager: Finding the Perfect Places for Film & TV

    Host Dan Allen chats with Sue Quinn, acclaimed Locations Manager whose work includes the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts, The Love Actually, and numerous major film and television productions. Sue has helped transform real-world places into some of the most iconic locations in modern cinema. But WHAT exactly does a Locations Manager do? How do you find locations that feel magical, cinematic, and authentic—while still working in the real world? What goes into securing, managing, and protecting locations on huge productions like Harry Potter? And what are the unexpected challenges of filming in castles, historic buildings, and public spaces? From spellbinding sets to logistical nightmares, Sue takes us behind the scenes of one of the most vital roles in filmmaking—where creativity meets coordination, and every location tells a story.

    57 min

  3. JAN 7

    Annie Sulzberger — THE CROWN head researcher! Bringing History to Life on Screen

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Annie Sulzberger, the Head of Research on Netflix’s award-winning series The Crown. Annie has spent years digging through archives, uncovering complex histories, and shaping the factual backbone behind one of television’s most ambitious and beloved dramas. But WHAT exactly does a researcher do on a major series? How do you balance historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling? Where do you even begin when you’re responsible for verifying decades of royal history? And what are the challenges of portraying real people, some still alive, on an international stage? From sourcing rare documents to advising actors, writers and directors, Annie takes us behind the scenes of The Crown to reveal how history becomes drama, and how careful research can elevate a story to something truly iconic.

    1h 19m
  4. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 🎅 | The ULTIMATE 2025 MOVIE QUIZ

    12/24/2025

    CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 🎅 | The ULTIMATE 2025 MOVIE QUIZ

    It’s time for a festive showdown! Dan Allen takes the host’s chair for a special Christmas & 2025 Movie Quiz, putting film knowledge to the test as Ellen Thomas, Ruby, and Lewis go head-to-head. From  2025 releases to festive film trivia, surprises, and wild guesses, anything can happen. Who really knows their movies? Who’s bluffing their way through the answers? And who will be crowned Movie Quiz Champion of 2025? Grab a mince pie, play along at home, and see if you can beat the panel in this end-of-year movie quiz spectacular. 🎄🍿🎬

    1h 8m

  5. 11/26/2025

    Teddy Blanks — TITLE DESIGNER for GRETA GERWIG and HOLLYWOOD - Crafting Iconic Opening Sequences and the Art of Text on screen Storytelling

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Teddy Blanks, acclaimed title designer and co-founder of CHIPS, the New York-based design studio behind striking title designs for films and series such as Nosferatu From concepts to final frames, Teddy takes us inside the creative process of building visual identities that stay with audiences long after the credits roll. But WHAT exactly goes into making great TITLES ? How do typography, pacing, and sound design shape a viewer’s first emotional connection to a film or show? What’s it like collaborating with directors like Greta Gerwig and Robert Eggers? And how can emerging filmmakers use design to elevate their own storytelling?

    1h 7m

  6. 11/12/2025

    Yemi Bamiro — DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER (One Man and His Shoes, Black is Beautiful, Fight the Power): Telling Real Stories & Breaking into the Film Industry

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Yemi Bamiro, fresh off the back of his BFI LFF screening of his latest film, Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story. His work includes One Man and His Shoes and Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World. Yemi’s documentaries blend striking visuals with cultural insight, exploring how media, identity, and power shape our world. But WHAT exactly goes into making a great DOCUMENTARY? How do you earn trust, find access, and tell real stories that connect with audiences? What does it take to break into the industry today—and how can young filmmakers find their voice in an ever-changing media landscape? Yemi shares his creative process, his challenges, and his advice for the next generation of storytellers.

    1h 2m
  7. Grace Dickinson - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Training CREEPY CRAWLIES and EXOTIC ANIMALS for FILM & TV: Behind the Scenes with Hollywood’s Wildest Stars

    10/29/2025

    Grace Dickinson - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Training CREEPY CRAWLIES and EXOTIC ANIMALS for FILM & TV: Behind the Scenes with Hollywood’s Wildest Stars

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Grace Dickinson, a professional animal trainer and handler who works with exotic animals for film and television. From big cats to crocodiles and rats, Grace has brought some of the screen’s most unforgettable creatures to life, safely, ethically, and with a deep respect for the animals she works with.  She has worked for and alongside one of Europe’s most highly esteemed providers of trained wild animals for media since 2002 and continued to work freelance in this industry from 2013 as both an animal wrangler, stunt double/extra and animal coordinator and trainer specialising in reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and rodents as well as supporting other reputable names in the industry. But WHAT exactly goes into training animals for film? How do productions balance storytelling, safety, and animal welfare on set? What’s it like to direct a tiger, a cockroach… or even a snake? And what are the behind-the-scenes challenges and magical moments that come with working alongside Hollywood’s wildest co-stars? https://www.reptilesetc.co.uk/

    1h 26m

  8. 10/15/2025

    Steven Bernstein - MONSTER, White Chicks, SCARY MOVIE 2 Cinematography to Writer / Director

    Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Steven Bernstein, acclaimed cinematographer, director, and writer, whose work includes the Oscar-winning Monster, Like Water for Chocolate, White Chicks, Scary Movie, SWAT and more. Steven has built a career not only behind the camera but also as a teacher and author, helping filmmakers understand the deep connection between image and story. But WHAT exactly does cinematography bring to a story? How do visuals shape the emotional core of a story? How can you let go of what's not important when writing? And what can new filmmakers learn about the craft of storytelling, whether through words… or through light and lens? You can find Steven on https://www.instagram.com/stevenbernsteindirectorwriter/

    1h 27m
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About

The Young Film Academy Podcast is essential listening for young people looking to find their way into the creative industries. We chat with industry professionals who've worked on the biggest TV shows and movies, demystifying their job role, uncovering how they broke into the industry and learning what they did during their teenage years to set themselves up for success.

Information

  • Creator
    Young Film Academy
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Young Film Academy Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Young Film Academy Podcast