Sean Connery Family to Open Film Institute in Edinburgh

Plans to create a filmmaking center in Edinburgh, named the NFTS Sean Connery Institute, have been revealed by Sir Sean Connery's family. This initiative, a collaboration between the National Film and Television School (NTFS) and the Sean Connery Foundation, is set to open in the city center within the next 18 months. It aims to train Scotland's film and TV professionals, offering screenings, masterclasses, and various events. Connery's children emphasized their father's belief that "while talent may be distributed equally, opportunity is not." NTFS director Jon Wardle highlighted the chance to honor Connery's legacy and facilitate entry into the Scottish screen industry. Established in late 2022, the Sean Connery Foundation has partnered with NTFS since 2023 on the Sean Connery Talent Lab. Sir Sean Connery, who was born in 1930 in Edinburgh, transitioned from a milkman to a Hollywood icon, starring in seven James Bond films, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and The Hunt for Red October. He received an Oscar for The Untouchables in 1988 and passed away in October 2020 in the Bahamas. His son, Jason Connery, co-owns First Stage Studio in Edinburgh's Port of Leith, where productions like Netflix's Department Q have taken place.