Life in Brighton
Welcome to Brighton. One of the most liberal and friendly cities in Europe. Its unrivalled charm as a creative hub has attracted filmmakers for decades.
The city is home to many film and television production companies including Warner Brothers International and Lambent Productions, making it the perfect place to start your journey into the industry. Plus, our industry engagement team create work experience and networking opportunities to help you get your foot directly in the door.
This is Brighton- welcome to your new home!
In 2019, Brighton was voted the happiest place to live and work in the UK (CV-Library), not least because of its award-winning beach. Few locations can boast a cosmopolitan city lifestyle just a short walk from an iconic seaside escape. Plus, the beach gains an outdoor cinema every summer!
Of course, there’s more to Brighton than just sun, sea and… pebbles. Annual music, arts and cultural festivals like Brighton Fringe, Pride, The Great Escape and an abundance of culinary events make this city an incredibly exciting place to live and study.
As the shoot location for gritty classics like ‘Brighton Rock’ and contemporary documentaries such as Nick Cave’s ‘20,000 Days On Earth’, Brighton’s dynamic topography provides a multitude of environments in which to realise and expand your creative vision.
The city hosts key industry events such as Brighton Festival, Cinecity, Brighton Fringe, The Great Escape and more, all of which bring international musicians, artists, actors and creatives to the city each year.
Brighton Festivals
Brighton & Hove is a City of Festivals with an eclectic annual programme of events including Paddle Round the Pier; Brighton Pride and Burning the Clocks.
The main month for Festivals in Brighton is May as the Brighton Festival; Brighton Fringe; Artists Open Houses and the Great Escape take place in the city centre. Come November, CineCity brings independent cinematography to the fore. In 2019, Screen and Film School partnered with Cinecity to sponsor a brand new category for young filmmakers, celebrating upcoming local talent. ‘New Voices’ will showcase shorts of all genres from some of Brighton’s most promising young filmmakers, opening the door to exciting opportunities in order to get noticed.
When the sun sets, Brighton’s legendary nightlife kicks in. The city boasts over 200 pubs and bars; the most bars and pubs per square mile than any other city in the UK.
The majority of Brighton’s clubs, including Concorde 2, Patterns, Coalition and the Green Door Store hold gigs in the early evening before opening up to their regular club nights later on.
There is an event to cater for every taste, almost every night of the week. Don’t worry about missing out on anything though – you’ll be handed flyers at every street corner and most pubs, bars and cafes will have the latest what’s on guide.
Whatever your taste and budget you’ll find plenty of places to eat in Brighton. There are over 400 restaurants, more than anywhere in the UK outside of London, which provide food from all cuisines.
Around every corner you’re likely to find your new favourite, but a couple of ours are Fatto a Manno, and Alcampo Lounge (both conveniently placed on London Road), Easy Tiger (Indian small plates) and La Choza (amazing Mexican street food).
Dietary requirements? Don’t stress- Brighton is spoilt for choice with its wide range of vegan & vegetarian eateries. Check out Purezza (plant-based pizzas), Happy Maki (vegan sushi) and BEELZEBAB’S at The Hope & Ruin (vegan hot dogs, kebabs and loaded fries).
Brighton can satisfy all your shopping needs, Big name stores can be found in Churchill Square shopping centre and on Western Road, but if you’re looking for something a bit more off-beat then visit the bohemian North Laine; a laid-back area of independent clothes shops, cafes and record shops.
This is not to be confused with the upmarket South Lanes area with its cobbled alleyways of exclusive fashion boutiques and expensive antiques, though this is equally worth a visit (even if it’s just for a good window-shop!)
If you’re scouting for filming locations, Brighton and its surrounding areas boast an array of visually stunning environments and backdrops.
Brighton is famous for its pebble stone beach, stretching from one side of the city to another, but if you venture just a little further afield you’ll soon find yourself in some of England’s most beautiful countryside.
Easily accessible by public transport, bike, or car, the South Downs National Park boasts 1,600km2 of diverse and picturesque natural beauty- a cinematographer’s dream. From the dramatic white cliffs of Seven Sisters, to the Court Garden Vineyard, and the woodlands of Western Weald, you’re quite literally spoiled for scenic choice.
Bike
Brighton is a super cyclist-friendly city with bike lanes and bike storage all over the city. It’s now part of the National Cycle Network too and has an official cycle route that runs along the seafront.
Plus, you can rent city bikes through the BTN BikeShare app, which costs 3p per minute. If you live a short distance from our college, it might be the most cost-effective way to travel.
Bus
Buses are everywhere in Brighton which makes getting around super easy. There’s a handy app to plan your route where you can also check timetables and even buy tickets- just make sure your phone has enough charge for your journey!
Taxi
There’s definitely no shortage of taxis and taxi ranks in the city centre. The main ones are based at Brighton train station, East Street, Queen’s Square and Hove Town Hall. Other businesses such as Uber and Free Now are also available.
Train
If you’re living outside the city, it’s easily accessible from either Brighton or Hove mainline station. Trains also frequently run to and from London Victoria and London Bridge.
Plane
Gatwick airport is only 45 minutes away from Brighton – either by car or by train. Gatwick Express also runs to and from the airport straight to the station. London Stansted and London Heathrow airports are also accessible by train and by National Express.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding Brighton student life or if you’d like more information on how to apply to Screen and Film School, please contact our Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346 or email [email protected].
