Eco Film School: A half-term 2 day immersion!
Wed 18 Feb & Thurs 19 Feb 2026
Overview
A hands-on, two-day immersive film training programme for young people in education aged 13 to 19. Set in the heart of the Trossachs, in Kinlochard Village Hall, the Eco Film School blends the mechanics of film-making with creative storytelling for young people who care about nature, people and our planet.
Participants will learn how to use their voice, through the medium of film, to make a film about something they care about in the natural world. Using the surrounding landscape and existing passions films could be about things like … the tiny creatures that sustain the world, a story about the role of trees, water, climate change, what lives down burrows…! Young people will be encouraged to dig into what they know and bring those ideas to life.
Participants can self-organise around who writes, presents, operates camera, operates sound, edits or a combination of these depending on peers and numbers.
Some of what participants will learn, depending on their choice of role:
The ingredients of great storytelling and rough script writing - and how to create a narrative story from the safety and comfort of the Kinlochard Hall and the surrounding natural area
How to turn something they care about, related to nature, into a compelling short film that raises awareness or even sparks action
How to operate broadcast cameras, lenses and sound equipment, and how to achieve great composition and shots
Interview techniques and presenting
Basic editing to pull their film together in a compelling and engaging way, and how to use archive libraries
The aim is for this to be a collaborative, immersive and fast learning journey, designed to pique interest and give a real taste of the craft and industry and how to make films that actually matter – and crucially affect change and address the issues young people care about.
Dates
Two days during half term – 09.00am to 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 February
Thursday 19 February
Price
All places are by application - please fill out the form to secure your place - and we will get back to you with answers to any questions before sending a payment link.
Prices are on a sliding scale. Please pay what you can afford to allow all to attend.
(Paying in the higher bracket will allow for one fully paid place for a young person to attend in a lower income situation).
· £350 for the two days per person – HIGHER BRACKET
· £290 for the two days per person – MIDDLE BRACKET
· £0.00 for the two days for one person – BURSARY / FREE SPACE
Price includes filming and editing equipment including long and macro lenses, two experienced professionals with PVG membership, and the venue.
Prices must be paid in full before the course begins, unless other arrangements are made. Payment links will be sent on acceptance of place, following application.
Note: Due to overheads for equipment, this course can go ahead with a minimum of three young people. Three also allows for one bursary place. The maximum number is 10 so that participants get the most out of the learning journey.
Why Eco Film School matters
This project offers access to professional level equipment and training that would otherwise be unaffordable. It provides the rare chance for young people from rural Scotland to experience the craft of science, documentary and campaign filmmaking with an RTS award winning filmmaker with decades long experience in the BBC and also as former lead of the World Wildlife Fund film unit.
This is about more than just teaching young people to make films. It is about equipping them to tell powerful environmental stories through a scientific lens, inspiring others and learning how to ask meaningful questions through film.
Storytelling skills are more vital than ever in today’s content driven world, not just for careers in filmmaking, but in science, activism and education. By learning how to craft powerful impact films, participants will gain the tools to spark action, raise awareness and become confident communicators for the natural world.
Builds creative confidence
Inspires care for the planet and people through hands on action and helps in turn with mental wellbeing
Empowers young people to strengthen their voice on issues that matter to them
Note: This is a pilot project in the area and dates for future projects are not guaranteed. If you are on the fence, don’t delay!
Please sign up here or ask any questions by going to the website or clicking the QR code.
Endorsement
Janine helped us A Place in Childhood facilitate the co creation of a youth led short film for the national Audit Scotland Youth Advisory Panel. Working with a large diverse group of young people from across Scotland, of all ages including those from some of the most deprived areas, she was able in a single day to organise them around personal interests, train different sub groups to storyboard, present, direct and use professional camera and sound equipment, and produce their own powerful coherent film on drug and alcohol prevention. Include link.
Her ability to work with young people of all ages, and to lead them towards a truly collective, high-quality outcome, was remarkable. For many of them, the experience was the highlight of their two-year participation in the Panel. We and they could not recommend her more.
More About Fin Films and Janine Finlay
The project will be led by Janine Finlay, an award-winning BBC and WWF documentary director. See www.finfilms.co.uk. Janine brings over 30 years of experience in storytelling for impact, including BBC Education and Learning, and A Place in Childhood on youth media projects, as well as recent ecology work as lead facilitator of the Kinlochard Eco Working Group and as a bat surveyor.
She also set up the nature initiative The Community Ecology Movement. See www.communityecology.co.uk. She is also trained as an Active Hope facilitator, helping turn narratives about the problems of our world into positive action.
Janine Finlay: Experience with Youth, Nature and Film Projects
1. A Place in Childhood
In collaboration with A Place in Childhood and the Scottish Government, I supported a group of young people in co-producing a film based on their own experiences and findings from the national Drug and Alcohol Audit. I delivered hands on training in storytelling, interviewing, filming and editing, empowering the group to take creative and technical control of the process. The resulting film was shared with ministers and decision makers, demonstrating the impact of youth led media in shaping policy.
2. BBC Education: Aurora Borealis and Dark Sky Films
As Director for a BBC Education programme, I led a production that took Scottish students to Finland to experience and learn about the Aurora Borealis. I also created films on night skies and light pollution in Scotland’s Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park. Both films combined scientific learning with visual wonder, tailored to spark curiosity and awe in young audiences.
3. BBC Children’s Department: Nature Explorer Films
Directed engaging, science-based adventure films for young audiences, including episodes on fossil hunting, bird watching and discovering wildlife habitats. These were designed to nurture wonder and inquiry around the natural world, as well as highlight practical nature skills.
4. Community Ecology Movement 2024 to present
Founded this initiative to connect communities including young people with ecological recording, species identification and habitat conservation. Delivered workshops on identifying local pollinators and mammals, and submitting records to national databases. Developed short form video resources to guide and inspire public participation.
5. Fin Films Ltd: Wildlife Education Shorts
Produced a series of accessible 4K wildlife films showing how to identify and survey Scottish species. These are shared freely via social media to inspire public engagement with ecological science and foster visual literacy in conservation storytelling.