The National Film and Television School (NFTS) one of the world’s leading training grounds for film, television and games education, today announces the launch of The Bleeding Fingers Scholarship, a new funding initiative supporting students to join its prestigious Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Composing.
This empowering scholarship has been established in partnership with Bleeding Fingers Music, the multi-award-winning composer collective co-founded by Hans Zimmer, Steven Kofsky and Russell Emanuel. Bleeding Fingers Music operates as a joint venture between the production music arm of Sony Music Publishing, Extreme Music and RCI Global. The scholarship represents a steadfast investment in nurturing the next generation of diverse and talented screen composers.
The Bleeding Fingers Scholarship will support students across multiple cohorts of the two-year Composing for Film and Television MFA. A new scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding candidate, based on creative excellence, a clear commitment to a career in screen composing and financial need.
Previous alumni of the Composing MFA are in high demand internationally, working across independent and feature films, high-end television, commercials and numerous award- winning productions. Notable NFTS graduates include Natalie Holt (Loki), Segun Akinola (Doctor Who), Nainita Desai (For Sama), Dario Marianelli (Academy award winner for Atonement), Martin Phipps (The Crown) and Adiescar Chase (Heartstopper).
“We are incredibly grateful to Bleeding Fingers Music for their generous support of this newly established scholarship,” said Jon Wardle, NFTS Director. “At the NFTS, we are committed to ensuring that the most talented individuals can access our training, regardless of their financial background. This scholarship will help us continue to attract and uplift exceptional composers who will go on to soundtrack the screen industries in years to come.”
“The future of our industry depends on who gets the opportunity to step into it. This scholarship is about finding exceptional talent, supporting it properly, and giving those composers a real shot at building lasting careers. We’re excited to partner with NFTS to help make that a reality,” said Russell Emanuel CEO Bleeding Fingers.
“Bleeding Fingers was built on the idea of giving talented composers a real pathway into the industry. This scholarship is a natural extension of that. As we expand with the launch of Bleeding Fingers UK, it creates a powerful gateway for new composers to access our global network and begin building real careers in screen music,” says Steven Kofsky, Bleeding Fingers Chairman.
Aspiring Composers are encouraged to apply for The Bleeding Fingers Scholarship, which will provide financial support for the duration of their two years of training.
Eligible applicants offered a place on the Composing MFA will be invited to apply for funding, at which point they can indicate their interest in the scholarship.
Applications for the Composing MFA are open until 7th May 2026: nfts.co.uk/composing-film-and-television
