Alumni and Student Highlights
In June, Horace Ové, who studied for a Diploma in Filmmaking in the 1960s, visited Buckingham Palace and was given his knighthood in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to media. Horace has been credited by Guinness World Records as being the first black British filmmaker to direct a feature-length picture, with Pressure in 1976.
Jacqueline Lentzou, a MA Filmmaking alumna, returned to LFS this month to host a masterclass for students and alumni. Jacqueline has been recently promoting her feature film, Moon, 66 Questions and came back to the School ahead of a screening of the film at the BFI. Students were able to attend the masterclass and the screening to hear from Jacqueline on her experiences and in making the film.
This month also saw the winners of The Ray Harryhausen Awards announced, devised by LFS alumnus, John Walsh. As well as being a former LFS student, John is a filmmaker and trustee of The Ray Harryhausen Foundation, created to protect Ray’s name and body of work as well as archiving, preserving and restoring Ray’s extensive collection. The awards have been created to encourage a new generation of animators to be inspired. More about the awards and John’s own comments can be read here. Ray Harryhausen Awards | The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation
We’re looking forward to the forthcoming production of The Importance of Being Anxious, produced by MA Screenwriting grad, Rod Jorge. The play has been written by and stars Hal Cantor, Visiting Lecturer at LFS and Rod’s unit three mentor. It’s great to see mentors and mentees working together beyond their time here at LFS. The Importance of Being Anxious will be playing at the Museum of Comedy from 3rd August.
Huge congratulations and a big welcome back to Rafael Kapelinski who has now wrapped shooting in Hungary. His feature, Budapest Diaries is set in 1981, when the political and economic crisis worsened in Poland, and many people travelled to Hungary where the repression was less severe.
LFS Graduate Film Highlights
Glorious Revolution continues a glorious festival run, participating at the Tel Aviv Student FF and shortlisted at the highly competitive YUGO BAFTA Awards. The film then hopped over to Europe, screening at Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove on 5 June 2022. Congratulations to the team! Writer-Dir-Editor: Masha Novikova, DoP: Pablo Garrido Carreras.
Sucking Diesel was awarded with two Silver Screen awards in the categories: Short Film (6 - 30 min) and Film School (6 min and over) at the Cannes Lions Young Director Awards 2022. Huge congrats to Dir: Sam McGrath and the team!
Accolades continue to shower the team of after a room, winning Best Cinematography at Vers Film Awards, the Elbe Dock Award, and 'Special Mention Best Student Film' at Mieres Under 60' (Spain). The short also screened at competitive FEST - New Directors / New Films (Portugal) and at Shortcutz Amsterdam. Congratulations to the team! Writer-Editor-Dir: Naomi Pacifique; Sound Design: Pablo Garrido Carreras; Producer: Rafael Manuel.
On Your Behalf has kicked off its Festival run at Nevada Womens Film Festival (nwffest.com) and was part of 26th annual Fade Awards Comedy Competition 2022 and picking up 'First Prize, Comedy Award'. Congratulations to the team! Writer-Dir: Ana Garcia Rico, Editor: John Powell, Prod: Maya Wills.
Dancing With Dharma was part of the FantaSci Short Film Festival in May collecting "Winner best fantasy film and best screenwriting". Also will be screened at 12th Pune Short Film Festival 2022 and Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival in June. Congratulations to the team! Writer-Dir: Sukanya Devika Jhala, Editor: Francesco Ibba, Co-Prod: Chen-Ling Liu, Prod. Desig: Giulia Mazzocchi.
Odh Gohri also the above at Pune Short Film Festival 2022 (home of the Film and Television Institute, India). Writer-Director: Rochna Kumar.
Further screenings for Third Solar Term in early June, being awarded 'Best student Short Film' at KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2022 (India) and at The British Independent Film Festival (UK) where it won ‘Best Student Film’ award DoP Tong Liu was nominated for The Milsome Award for Cinematography and the actress Zhu Zhu was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Also screened at 24th Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival 2022 ) Writer-Dir-Editor: Zhanfei Song, Prod: Naixin Liang, DoP: Tong Liu, Prod.Design: Aoya Su, Art Dir: Xiaojing Ma. Writer-Dir-Editor: Zhanfei Song, Prod: Naixin Liang, DoP: Tong Liu, Prod.Design: Aoya Su, Art Dir: Xiaojing Ma.
A Firecracker Story screened at Leiden Shorts (Netherlands). Writer-Dir: Zhizi Hao, Prod: Naixin Liang, DoP: Guyuan Ma, Editor: Xiao Ding, Art Dir: Cheng Li.
Photo Credits (top to bottom)
Still from the LFS Masterclass with Jacqueline Lentzou
Image from The Importance of Being Anxious by Hal Cantor
Image from Budapest Diaries by Rafael Kapelinski
Still from Sucking Diesel Dir: Sam McGrath
Still from A Firecracker Story Writer-Dir: Zhizi Hao, DoP: Guyuan Ma