For the last three years, boomsatsuma has been delivering cutting-edge, industry aligned film, photography and games degrees. Today we announce the next step in our evolution. Bristol Film School, will be home to our filmmaking and photography degrees and Bristol Creative Technology Centre (BCTC) will house Bristol Games Studio, alongside the entrepreneurial Venture Studio.

CEO and Founder Mark Curtis says:

"Boomsatsuma has developed a reputation for changing lives. Through our innovative courses we are helping to nurture and develop highly skilled, talented young people, whether that’s at college or degree level. Our new structure focuses on preparing students for successful careers. We are committed to ensuring Bristol remains a powerhouse of creativity and we want the Film School and BCTC to become cornerstones of the city’s successful Creative Industries sector."

Bristol Film School

Bristol Film School has ambitious plans. Dr. Susan McMillan, Executive Dean, explains why this dynamic rebranding is important for the company, the city and its students: 

"The new name, Bristol Film School, says ‘what’s in the tin’ making it clearer to those who don’t know us what we do, how we do it and where. Bristol is globally renowned for its film and television production, and we are trailblazers in shaping new talent to ensure its success, working alongside our wonderful industry partners."

Bristol-based director of Netflix hit The Crown, Philippa Lowthorpe, three-times BAFTA Award winner, sums up the mood from industry:

"Changing the name really positions boomsatsuma where it should be - as a leader in film and TV in the South West and nationally. Bristol needs its own Film School. It’s incredible we don’t have one. This is fabulous news."

Here are our amazing students trying out our new name.

Bristol Creative Technology Centre

BCTC builds on our growing connections with the region's creative technology sector and our ambition to combine degree level learning with the delivery of entrepreneurial, commercially viable projects for partners. 

A key development has been the foundation of our in-house incubator Venture Studio. Led by Richard Blows, Head of BCTC, a team of Game Art graduates and students have been engaged as freelance developers to recreate the world’s first historically accurate digital reconstruction of Hadrian’s Wall for Microsoft Flight Simulator, in partnership with Time Machine Designs (see video below).

BCTC Production Manager Mark Fisher comments:

"I had the opportunity to work on the Hadrian’s Wall project through being a boomsatsuma Game Art graduate. I started at boomsatsuma as a college student on the Games, VR and VFX course. Once I finished that I moved onto the Game Art degree and as soon I finished that I was able to start on the Hadrian’s Wall project. Being able to go straight into a job was an amazing feeling and it has been an amazing experience from start to finish."

To find out more about our degrees and the opportunities available through Bristol Film School or BCTC, come along to our next Open Day on 15 June.