It's the summer break but our graduates and students have been working tirelessly. We've loved seeing the work and achievements of everyone over the last month.
Get in touch with us at alumni@lfs.org.uk in you have any of your own news to share or know about someone else whose achievements we could be including.
Well done to Helena Westerman (MAS18) who saw her script from her first term at LFS shortlisted for the Best Script (19 and Over) at the Film the House competition. The script, Breathing Underwater was shortlisted in the competition at the House of Lords to awareness of the need to protect creativity.
We were delighted to hear about Mahshad Afshar (MAF 176) who has completed her PhD. Dr Mahshad Afshar wrote her thesis titled The Representation of Women in Films Made by Iranian Women Filmmakers. What an incredible achievement!
Andrea Banfi (MAF 0918) has picked up the Rai Cinema Prize with his latest film, Cani (Dogs). The short film was co-directed by Andrea and MG Naar, and follows a child forced to work in a kennel. The prize was awarded at the Social World Film Festival, with Rai Cinema one of the biggest broadcasters and production companies in Italy, providing the prize.
Congrats to the whole team behind Elevator Pitch, a new short film made by several LFS grads. Written and directed by Lyndon Hanrahan (MAS 16), the film features the work of numerous grads including producer, Alex Halpern (MAIFB 7). The short film can be watched on the Omeleto channel of YouTube. Watch it here A security guard is too shy to flirt with a resident. Then he gets his chance... | Elevator Pitch - YouTube. The film was also selected for In The Palace FF (see below).
Freemont is the latest feature from Babak Jalali (MAF 149) has premiered at Sundance as well as screening at SXSW. The film had its international premiere at Karlovy Vary, where Babak won Best Director! Huge well done to Babak. Read more about the film here: Director Babak Jalali on subverting refugee stereotypes in his comedy drama ‘Fremont’ | News | Screen (screendaily.com)
Screenwriting alumna, Despina Ladi (MAS 5) has co-written Rent-A Mama, which has been selected for the 2023 SeriesLab projects for Torino Film Lab, an initiative devoted to TV series creation. Over a five month programme, Despina and the other participants will develop their projects with one projects awarded €10,000.
Grad James Rush and almuni Jacqueline Lentzou and Paisley Valentine Walsh will be taking part in Creators Lab 2023 with filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul during a week in August in Yucatan, Mexico.
Grad Film Highlights
LFS at Locarno!
We are thrilled to have two A-list Festival selections this year, and are very proud to announce that Scorched Earth will World Premiere at Locarno Film Festival in August. Huge Congratulations to the whole team of Scorched Earth including graduates Writer-Dir: Markella Kontaratou, Editor: Mengyao Zhang, Prod: Chen-Ling Liu, DoP: Taamas A Meder.
Also, Masha Novikova (Dir: Glorious Revolution La Cinef 2021) will be part of the Locarno Academy in this edition.
We were delighted to see Sparare alle Angurie shortlisted for the BAFTA YUGO Awards (USA). Writer-Dir-Editor: Antonio Donato, Prod: Patrick Verlin, DoP: Sahil Kotwani, Prod.Design: Anastasiya Mykhaylova. Girls premiered at the great Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Japan) earlier in June. Writer-Congrats Director: Qiwen Zhang, Producer: Yining Di.
Three grad films zoomed over the Atlantic to screen at LA Shorts Film Festival (USA): Saving Art (Writer-Dir: Remi Moses, Prod: Victor Nauwynck, DoP: Pui Man Leung, Prod.Design: Anastasiya Mykhaylova, Art Dire: Elitsa Marielle) and Lunatics (Writer-Dir: Florian Kasperski, Prod: Nathan Legger, DoP: Raphael Hernandez, Editor: Robert Harold, Sound.Desig: Lu Lu, Composer: Lucas Boetsch) and Happy Graduation Writer-Director: Robert Harold, Producer: Spandana Patanaik, Co-Producer: Nathan M. Legger, Editor: Florian Kasperski.
Man of Arcadia will screen in Brighton Rocks Film Festival (UK) in June Writer-Director: Tommaso Pazzi, Producer: Emma Schilders & Prachi Hota, DoP: Airui Li, Editor: Alexandra Brandl.
Lebanon set grad film The Sun Sets on Beirut was awarded with the Grand Prix at Les Nuits Med (France). Congratulations to the team! Writer-Dir: Daniela Stephan, Producer: Yuanhao Song.
Shanghai Intl Film Festival (China): screened two grad films this year, including Cannes premiered, Talking to the River (Dir-Writer-Editor-Co-Prod: Yue Pan, Sound Recordist: Lu Lu, Prod.Design: Ziyan Gao, Art Dir: Zhao Wu) and the East Aisan premiere of The Long Journey (Writer-Dir-Editor: Huaqian Zeng, Producer: Qianye Li, DoP: Kai Yu).
Also fantastic news this month with In the Palace FF (Bugaria) showcased eight LFS MA Filmmaking films and one MA Screenwriting student film. Congratulations to all!
Komsu Sesler: Writer-Dir: Ali Güldürür, Prod: Joao Salgado, DoP: Aditya Sharma.
Lo Sguardo: Writer-Director-Prod: Edoardo Ulivelli (also participating in the Filmer Forge Pitch IIndutry Program with his next short film), Associate Prod: Antonio Donato, Patrick Verlin.
Blue Note: Writer-Dir.Prod: Pavel Andonov, Prod.Assist. Carolina Ratcliff, Prod.Design: Abigail Quinlan.
Wetsuit: Writer-Director: Joao Salgado, DoP: Pablo Garrido Carreras, Editor: Hannah Owen.
On You Behalf: Writer-Dir: Ana Garcia Rico, Editor: John Powell, Prod: Maya Wills.
The Viewing Room: Writer-Director: Love von Hauswolff.
Your Guardian: Director: Mimi Vlaovic, Prod: Anastasia Savinova.
By the Rivers Blue: Writer-Dir: Tong Liu, Co-Prod: Naixin Liang, Prod.Desig: Cheng Li, Art Dir: Hui Zhang.
Elevator Pitch: Directed and Written by MAS grad Lyndon Hanrahan.
Treadmill was accepted at 10th ARFF Paris // International Awards 2023 (France) and Mediterraneo Festival Corto XIII Edizione 22-23 (Italy). Writer-Director: Pierluigi Campa, Prod: Nabil Muzayyin, DoP: Aadit Kumar Sharma, Editor: Benjamin Sivo, Art Dir: Tzu Ting Huang.
A Circle has been part of Asia International Film Week (China), Ouchy Film Awards (Switzerland) and Intl Women Filmmakers Film Festival (Turkey). Dir: Mariya Lukavska.
Ariane's Baby will be screening at 23rd Nickel Independent Film Festival 2023 (Canada). Writer-Director: Mahee Merica, Prod: Mathilde Jouaud, Mahee Merica & Chen-Ling Liu, DoP: Sheherezade El Moumni Berdai. Ariane's Baby will also be part of Indie X Film Festival 2023 (USA).
Photo Credits (top to bottom)
Mahshad Afshar
Freemont (Dir: Babak Jalali)
Man of Arcadia (Wri-Dir: Tommaso Pazzi)
Scorched Earth (Wri-Dir: Markella Kontaratou)
Ariane's Baby (Dir: Mahee Merica)