A global film school is being set up in Bradford with the aim of becoming one of the best in the world.

Bradford College has gone into partnership with a leading Asian film training company in the project which is backed by Bradford’s City of Film team and the British Council.

It will enable aspiring film-makers to spend time studying in Mumbai, India, the home of Bollywood.

The film school is being set up with Whistling Woods International – Asia’s premier film, television, animation and media arts institute and rated among the world’s ten best film schools by The Hollywood Reporter.

From autumn 2013 students will be able to study for degrees in film and animation and experience the Indian film industry on the Whistling Woods campus, including interacting with leading Indian and international film-makers, including Oscar-winner Danny Boyle.

The move follows a four-year affiliation between Bradford College and Whistling Woods International. In 2009 students from both institutions worked together to create award-winning stop-motion animation The Music of Life. They have since continued partnerships in photography, prosthetics, animation and fashion design.

David Wilson, director of Bradford City of Film, said: “Bradford has a fantastic film heritage and a fast-growing young population. This is a great way to live up to our Unesco title with a truly international partnership and help to develop film-makers of the future”.

Bradford-born film producer and City of Film chairman Steve Abbot added: “I am enormously proud that the world’s first City of Film is hosting this innovative new film school.”

Trevor Griffiths, associate director of innovation and projects at the College, said: “Setting up this film school at Bradford College cements Bradford’s standing as the number one destination for film. It’s a fantastic offer that will put Bradford centre stage and we’re thrilled to be working with some of the world’s most renowned experts in film.”

Meghna Ghai-Puri, president of Whistling Woods International, said: “Our relationship with Bradford College has been one of trust and great success. We share the same vision of having a truly international film school in the UK. It is exciting to be associated with such a renowned institution.”

Irfan Ajeeb, the T&A’s Bollywood film critic, said: “This is fantastic news for Bradford and in particular for film buffs who can now explore the true essence of international film-making right at their doorstep.”