The Scottish Youth Film Foundation in partnership with The Sean
Connery Foundation and the National Film and Television School are
delighted to announce that in Summer 2026 they will be running the
second year of The Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab.
The summer school will take place near Alness in the Highlands from
21st - 27th June 2026 and will be free to all participants.
Designed to mirror and complement the Sean Connery Talent Lab, the
Youth Talent Lab will take the form of a week-long residential summer
school where 12 participants will be guided through a compressed
version of the adult Talent Lab. The team will participate in
industry-led workshops on story development, scriptwriting, camera,
acting, editing and on-set skills. Over the course of the week, they
will create 2 short films (working in 2 groups of 6).
SYFF will be working with passionate young Scots, aged 17-22, who are
interested in directing, writing, acting, camera and editing and want
to take the next step in their filmmaking journey.
Applications for 2026 are now closed. Stay tuned for further updates!
Curious about what the experience is like? Check out this Behind the
Scenes video, from the inaugural 2025 Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab.
The 2025 Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab
Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab
“We are honoured to be partnering NFTS and The Sean Connery
Foundation in this project. SYFF has been promoting young talent
since inception and this inititiative will help further identify
and promote talented young film makers from across Scotland.”
- Scott Mackay, SYFF
“Across the NFTS, we are dedicated to nurturing emerging
filmmakers and creating pathways into the industry. The Sean
Connery Youth Talent Lab presents an incredible opportunity to
support young Scottish creatives at a crucial stage, equipping
them with the skills, confidence and inspiration to pursue a
future in filmmaking. Building on the success of the Sean
Connery Talent Lab, we are proud to be part of this new
initiative and excited to see the talent and creativity that
will emerge over the summer.”
- Alison Goring, Head of NFTS Scotland
“Our father was a self-taught professional who believed
there’s no substitute for hands-on learning when mastering
a craft. The Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab will give young Scots
an immersive, practical environment to develop their skills,
guided by passionate and dedicated mentors from SYFF.
We’re thrilled to support this initiative, which will
challenge young filmmakers to push themselves, collaborate, and
take their talent to the next level.”
- Stephane and Jason Connery, The Sean Connery Foundation
