YouTube agree sponsorship deal with NFTS

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt announced yesterday [27] during his MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh festival, a sponsorship deal between YouTube and UK film school the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

The three-year deal will see YouTube supporting an online film-making and distribution module as well as the school’s three-day showcase event, where the school highlights the works of its graduating students at the BFI Southbank every year.

YouTube will also be backing a new initiative called the Film Clinic where students will receive expert advice on digital capture and distribution.

Nik Powell, NFTS Director, said about the YouTube sponsorship: “We are delighted that YouTube has come on board as a sponsor at a time when the NFTS is developing its plans for its Digital Village-Phase II. There is no better time for this initiative and of course we are also extremely excited that our students will benefit from the insight of industry experts as on our Business Skills Module”.

In his MacTaggart Lecture, at the Media Guardian Edinburgh Festival, Eric Schmidt said: “I’m delighted that we are partnering with the UK’s National Film and TV School, to help young filmmakers navigate the world of YouTube. The NFTS is one of the world’s most successful film and TV schools, responsible for producing graduates who have gone on to gain credits on some of the UK’s and Hollywood’s finest productions. Starting in January we will be investing to support an online film-making and distribution module as part of the school’s curriculum.”