Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab

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 are looking for 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.

We especially encourage applications from young people who are from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the film industry.

Interested in applying? You can download an application form here:

Download Application

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