Bridging the gap between Academia and the Commercial World to produce job ready candidates.
“The media industry welcomes new talent into the fold with open arms – but it is evident that there is a gap in their knowledge regarding the fundamental workings of the business which needs to be addressed at academic level.” - John O'Sullivan, Founder & C.E.O. 560 Media Rights
BOFTV is a UK and Ireland initiative to specifically address the requirements of the commercial Film & TV sector for job ready applicants.
In a Brexit world with the challenges of a Global Pandemic, the UK and Ireland needs its creative new talent and future leaders to be business ready and equipped for the demands of a highly competitive domestic and global market.
The UK and Ireland are renowned as world leaders in creative and communications education. This year alone tens of thousands of students will leave schools and university and higher education with qualifications in Digital Media, Film & TV and looking for employment in the media world.
“It takes scores of people to get a film or TV production seen by the public, it's not all about the creative process." – Sarah Mckenzie, M.D. Creative Screen Associates
About Us
BOFTV is made up of industry experts who are at the ‘coal-face’ of the independent film & television industry, BOFTV is the only organisation that comprises the real current leaders in business. These are the people producing the content, conducting the sales and financial and international co-productions on a daily basis. As well as interacting with world-markets they are the investors, experts in law, rights, technical, marketing, P.R. & exhibition - all of who are at the forefront of the actual ‘business’ of film and television in the UK and Ireland.
What we do
The business side of film & television is not part of the university curriculum degree courses in the UK and Ireland and is not taught generally in schools and colleges. Our purpose at BOFTV is to assist in enabling these students to be industry ready and more suitable for the commercial environment in the domestic and international business.
We bridge the gap between the creative art of making digital media, film & TV and the commercial reality of the creative industries business and continue to contribute to the continuity of the UK and Ireland’s global status as a creative industry powerhouse worth billions to the economies of both countries.
Today’s graduates and school leavers should be filling the roles such as the following where all are essential areas of the business to ensure content is made, reaches its audience and recoups its budget and investments:
- International Sales Executives
- Distribution Executives
- Acquisitions Executives
- Development Executives
- Head of Production
- Business Affairs
- Production Accountants
- Royalty Accountants
- Management Accountants
- Festival Programmers
- Festival Co-ordinators
- Casting Directors
- Unit Publicists
- Unit Photographers
- Campaign Designers
- Digital Marketing Executives
- Brand Executives
- Conference Co-ordinators
- Conference Managers
- Distribution Marketing Executives
- Technical Delivery Executives
- Exhibition Executives
- Theatrical Film Bookers
“Not everyone will be the next Spielberg - where are the new designers, social media promoters, production accountants, distributors, business affairs people coming from?” – Julie Delaney, Commercial Affairs, Silver Mountain Distribution
Academic Partnerships
We are eager to work with organisations and academia in both the UK and Ireland to develop partnerships and training initiatives that will benefit both the students and the commercial sector.
We design and deliver bespoke programmes and workshops tailored to the organisation's needs, all delivered by industry experts and practitioners working at the forefront of the global film & television industry.
"I strongly believe that anyone interested in a career in film and television should have a good understanding of how the whole value chain for the industry works – from the first iteration of an idea right through to exhibition in cinemas, TV and streaming." – Chris Chandler, Joint Head, BA Film and Television, University of Hertfordshire
“It is no good just making your film or documentary – someone has got to sell it and get your money back” – Carey Fitzgerald, M.D. Silver Mountain Productions
The Team
Organization Co-Chairs
Steering Group
“Creativity does not stop in the edit room. Someone needs to design the poster, create the website and get the finished product online” - Edwina Forkin, M.D. Zanzibar Films