Portfolio advice for BA Film Production applicants

Portfolio Requirements

For our BA (Hons) Film Production and BA (Hons) Studio Practice (Filmmaking) degrees we’re looking to see some of your current work that showcases your interests and range of achievements. 

What you choose to submit in your portfolio tells us about the kind of filmmaker you want to be so please have this in mind. We are not expecting you to be a filmmaker yet – just have the potential and ambition to be one! If you have any queries about the portfolio, please email rtorr@uca.ac.uk.

What should be in the portfolio for Film?

A maximum of three minutes of film or video work. We prefer to see one or two complete pieces of work which demonstrate your storytelling, creativity and/or technical ability. Please avoid showreels and montage cut to music, as they tell us  little about your ability to develop a project.

Production values do not need to be high, as we are looking at your approach to storytelling using moving image. A scene or short film shot on your phone (for example, maybe you could tell a story about a friend or pet, or interview someone regarding their job or interests) would suffice.

What if I don’t have very much moving image to put in the portfolio?

If you do not have any moving image work to share, images, web links or documents to support your application and demonstrate your interest in/experience of visual arts and/or creative writing can be submitted. This could include a short screenplay or a series of still photographs or storyboards. If you are not supplying an example of moving image, this is your opportunity to show your interest in progressing to filmmaking through some still photos, scripts, stories you’ve written etc.

When will the portfolio be seen?

You'll be invited to share your work with the course team at an Applicant Day. Our Admissions Team will invite you to book your place at one of our Applicant Days after you have applied. 

Please bring your work in physical form. This can be on a laptop or on a drive/USB stick.  We will be looking at these in small groups with a member of staff as part of the Applicant Day process. It is also useful to have ready a brief description of your role in the work you are showing. You could also include a brief evaluation of what was successful, in your view, or what needed development.

If you are not able to attend the Applicant Day, you will be asked to submit a link to your work for viewing by academic staff. Your notes and evaluations are particularly important if we are not able to discuss your work with you. 

Use of AI 

Your portfolio must contain your own work. We understand that some of your portfolio may include work created in part or whole by AI. You must acknowledge this by adding ‘AI generated’ to the relevant section(s), stating how you used AI to create images, and adding a link to the original image with the date it was created (where possible). 

Integrated Foundation Year  Applicants

If your course includes an integrated foundation year then you'll be developing your portfolio during your first year of study. Therefore, we're not expecting to see a fully finalised portfolio from you at this stage.  

We would, however, like to see your sketchbooks or projects you've worked on in school or college, to get a sense of your creative interests.