Lights, camera, Exeter: new courses backed by Oscar-winning producer

University of Exeter film experts have joined forces with legendary British producer Lord David Puttnam to launch a suite of online professional courses designed to bridge the skills gap in the modern screen industry.

The initiative, revealed at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, aims to deliver business-critical knowledge to emerging filmmakers, producers and screen executives – with modules focused on everything from co-productions and commercial strategy to festival preparation and film finance.

The partnership brings together the academic rigour of Exeter’s Department of Communications, Drama and Film with the industry insight of Puttnam’s education venture, Atticus Education.

The result is a global-facing training offer that addresses what project lead Jezz Vernon calls “the unteachable essentials” – skills that are vital to success, yet often absent from traditional film education.

“These are highly specialised, real-world courses designed for early-career professionals who want to understand the business of film,” said Vernon, a Senior Lecturer at the University. “By collaborating with industry practitioners, we’re building a portfolio that’s grounded in contemporary challenges – and that provides creative professionals with the tools to actually navigate them.”

Each course will run online across five sessions, hosted on evenings or weekends, and will feature contributions from senior figures in the industry. Among those confirmed are Alan Martin, COO of Good Gate Media, and Katie Bignell, founder of leading festival consultancy Festival Formula. Lord Puttnam himself will introduce each programme with a welcome address.

Puttnam – known for Chariots of Fire, The Mission, The Killing Fields and Bugsy Malone – said the series aims to reframe the way filmmakers think about the industry.

“It is sometimes forgotten this is a business,” he said. “It’s not just about having a dream – it’s about knowing how to deliver it. These courses are about giving emerging talent a roadmap through a competitive and fast-changing landscape.”

The first four courses are:

• Structuring Low-Budget UK Film Finance

• Commercial Pathways for First-Time Filmmakers

• How to Co-Produce Internationally

• Festival Strategy for Shorts and Debut Features

The programmes were developed with support from Exeter’s Business Engagement and Innovation team, with further courses expected to roll out by the end of the year. Screen International will support the project’s publicity and reach.

Targeted at professionals across Europe, the US and Asia-Pacific, the initiative represents a major step in the University’s growing engagement with the creative economy – one that positions Exeter as a global player in film education with practical outcomes at its heart.

More details, including application dates and course schedules, will be released via the University of Exeter’s website.