A FILM school which is doubling its intake year on year is expanding into a new facility which has lain empty for 20 years.

Brighton Film School will open the new centre following a £100,000 revamp of the site in London Road.

The school, currently in Ditchling Road, is rated in the top five in the UK and welcomes top industry professionals as guest lecturers.

The expansion will allow the school to welcome more than 250 full-time and 250 part-time students a year.

The more than 5,000 square feet of training space includes a film set with space for multiple rigs, a private cinema screening room, specialist film training rooms equipped with a full Mac suite, student learning lounge, art direction suite, outside space and an open reception area.

It will be ready for a new cohort of students to start their courses this September.

Gary Barber, head of Brighton Film School, said: “This is an important development for not just us, but for Brighton and the UK film industry. “The last three-plus years since we re-launched Brighton Film School have been an amazing journey and we have seen massive growth and development of new courses, more students and the development of a very high quality training school for the film industry. “We were already recognised as one of the top film schools in the UK and now this takes us to the next level and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of filmmakers.”

Andrew Green, chief executive of Brighton Film School, added: “This is a proud moment and a significant investment in the future of the school for our students and the staff who work here.

“This is a great achievement and these premises will be a stunning new home for our wonderful film school – delivering world class education and training for those who wish to work in the film industry.”

Brighton Film School has welcomed guest lecturers including screenwriter David Scinto (Sexy Beast, Gangster No 1), director Declan Lowney (Alpha Papa, Father Ted), Cinematographer Brian Tufano (Billy Elliot, Trainspotting), and producer Andrew MacDonald (Trainspotting, Last King of Scotland).

Courses will be offered at degree level, professional diploma, evening classes and summer schools in filmmaking, set design for film, screenwriting, editing, direction and cinematography.

For more information go to brightonfilmschool.co.uk.