Futures Festival 2025 took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire on Friday 28 February and Saturday 1 March, ahead of National Careers Week. It is Europe’s largest free careers event for those looking to start a career in the Film & TV industry and this year close to 4,500 young people and career changers from across the UK visited the Studios. The experience took place in multiple dedicated areas across the Studios including The John Barry Theatre, Q Stage, M Stage and tenant spaces.
“This year our aim for Pinewood Futures Festival was to incorporate and showcase even more companies and roles within our industry. We hosted over 50 companies and training providers with amazing immersive and interactive experiences as well as talks from industry leaders to inspire the filmmakers of the future. Thanks to all who attended.”
Dan Burton
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Senior Community and Education Outreach Manager
Pinewood Studios welcomed over 4,500 young people, career changers, Wookies and Driods onto the lot
Masks, props and armour were on display on M Stage
Virtual production workshops took place within the SONY offices
Interactive activités and lightsaber training were hosted on Q Stage
Groups from schools, colleges, universities and educational facilities studying film, media and creative arts arrived for bespoke tours around the Studios. Experts from every section of the industry came from far and wide to share their knowledge, experience and insights.
Speaker sessions hosted by Radio One Film Critic and Journalist Ali Plumb in our John Barry Theatre, featured an eclectic mix of talks, panel interviews and Q&As. The departments included Costume Design, Production, Art Department, Visual Effects, Sound, Film Journalism, Publicity and Directing.
"It was such a great experience to be back at Pinewood Futures Festival 2025 - getting to meet so many amazing people, talking to incredible behind-the-scenes talent and, of course, hanging out with some of the nerdiest geeks in the galaxy (which is very much a good thing, to be absolutely clear)."
Ali Plumb
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BBC Radio One Film Critic and Journalist
Dave Shaw from Diving Services discusses underwater filming techniques with students
A live demonstration on the Underwater Stage at Pinewood Studios
“It was absolutely fantastic. We brought 12 YR12 Drama and Media students and we were all blown away. The fact that we started with a live underwater stage demonstration and Q+A really was so impressive. The additional movie characters were so much fun and to top it off the amount of different TV and Film related careers on show was excellent. It really inspired both the students and the teachers. We'll absolutely be booking in for next year!”
Alex Maxwell - Teacher
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Sir William Ramsay School, High Wycombe
We hosted experiences in our Post Production Theatre with a live sound mix demonstration. Our tenants including Iver Make Up Academy demonstrated hair and make-up in a state-of-the-art Translux Makeup Trailer, Creative Media Skills Institute shooting on a video wall within their new workshop space onsite. Sony provided an interactive live shoot demo, showcasing the different roles on set and allowing the students to experience those roles.
BBC Radio One Film Critic and Journalist hosted the speaker sessions
Oscar-wining Costume Designer Lindy Hemming (Wonka, The Dark Knight) was one of the speakers who chatted to Ali Plumb and a live audience in the John Barry Theatre
On Q Stage Disney, Marvel, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) were all on hand to talk about current opportunities and pathways into the industry. MBS Equipment Co, Panavision, Mr Helix and Futures in Film collaborated on an immersive demonstration where participants were able to practice filming, presenting and lighting short videos. Turtle Canyon Media demonstrated live shooting, editing and colour grading with a green screen. The Greens Team created a vast secret garden where visitors could enter and be greeted by magical characters. Cineco constructed a roman set, with live demonstrations of set painting and prop making. Clear Angle wowed the students with their high-tech full body photogrammetry systems, and Imaginarium Studios showcased pioneering performance capture and virtual production.
“The trip was great fun, and I really felt engaged with the businesses that were there and learnt even more about the job area I would love to get into after 6th form. It was also cool to see people dressed up as Deadpool and Darth Vader.”
Harrison Tindall - Head Boy
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Chalfonts Community
Greens Team constructed an immersive Alice in Wonderland experience
Pinewood Studios Post Production Director Jens Christensen demonstrated a live sound in the Powell Theatre
M Stage – hosted 40 companies and course providers from across the industry with demonstrations and information about how they fit into the creative industries ecosystem; from VFX to armoury, prop making to editing.
The Underwater Stage demonstrated a full Underwater shoot and explanation of the importance of operational safety in and around water, and at the same time obtain the creative needs of the production.
The 501st Garrison turned out in all their glory and brought life and excitement with stormtroopers, droids and wookies along the route and we had special visits from a replica Batmobile, ECTO 1, Mater and Professor Z.
A huge thanks to all those who came to experience the day and to all the exhibitors and companies who came to talk, demonstrate and educate about their roles in the industry. The lot was buzzing with excitement, curiosity and dreams of future storytellers.
The festival allowed student to interact with characters and set pieces
Students had the chance to operate camera equipment and meet employers in the film industry
The full list of companies that attended Pinewood Futures Festival
Actors Studio, All Spring Media, BCD Travel, BFC, BFDG, BIMM University, Branding Focus, British Society of Cinematographers, British Stunt Register, Bucks New University, By This River, Cineco, Clear Angle Studios, Creative Media Skills Institute, Disney/Lucas Film/ ILM, Diving Services, Film Design International, From the Silver Screen, Global Academy, Greens Team, Huckleberry, Imaginarium Studios, IntoFilm, Iver Makeup Academy, Makinarium, Mark Milsome Foundation, Mind Magic Studios, MBS Equipment Co, Sunbelt, Mr Helix, Futures In Film, NakedWest/Freemantle, Creature Effects, NFTS, Pinewood Post Production, Resource Productions, Screen Skills, SONY, Turtle Canyon Media, Uni-versal Extras, British Stunt Register, UKFET, Light VFX, Translux, Character Cars, UK501st, Final Pixel, Terry English, and Valentine Films