As part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, London Film School was delighted to take part in this year’s Bolton Film Festival, joining filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences from across the UK for a vibrant celebration of independent cinema and emerging talent.
Bolton Film Festival has established itself as one of the UK’s most respected festivals for short film, championing new voices and creating opportunities for filmmakers to connect with audiences and industry experts. LFS was proud to be part of the programme as we mark seven decades of developing some of the world’s most exciting filmmakers.
A highlight of the festival was a special industry panel, “Breaking Into the Industry”, led by LFS Director Chris Auty, with library and festivals manager, Ginette Harrold. The session brought together aspiring filmmakers and industry guests for an insightful discussion on building a career in film, navigating the challenges of the sector, and making the most of opportunities available to emerging talent. Reflecting the international and collaborative spirit of London Film School, the conversation explored the many routes into the industry and the value of developing both creative vision and professional networks.
Abracadabra – Directed by Amy Mehshiri
Memories of Zhi – Directed by Mingxhin Li
MOL – Directed by Dhairya Zaveri
The festival also provided a fantastic platform to showcase the work of recent LFS graduates, with several films screening as part of the programme:
- Memories of Zhi – Directed by Mingxhin Li
- MOL – Directed by Dhairya Zaveri
- Abracadabra – Directed by Amy Mehshiri
Alongside these recent graduate productions, a significant number of films created by LFS alumni were selected for screening, demonstrating the continuing impact of the School’s filmmaking community across the industry:
- Hindsight – Directed by Remi R. Moses
- Jealous People Are Ugly – Directed by Theo Krekis
- Where to Find Foxes – Directed by Leo Villares, Produced by Victor Nauwynck, Written by Bea Ralston, Cinematography by Tamas Meder
- Quietness – Directed by Gonçalo Almeida
- Thanks for Considering Me – Directed by Patrick Verlin, Produced by Victor Nauwynck and Bea Ralston, Co-written by Paolo Rabone, Production Design by Anastasiya Mykalova, Edited by James Rush
The breadth of LFS talent represented at Bolton Film Festival reflects the School’s global community and its enduring influence on contemporary filmmaking. From current graduates making their first steps into the industry to established alumni continuing to build successful careers, the festival offered a powerful reminder of the creative connections that span generations of LFS filmmakers.
As LFS celebrates its 70th anniversary throughout the year, participation in festivals such as Bolton Film Festival remains an important way to support emerging talent, strengthen industry relationships, and showcase the remarkable achievements of our students and alumni.
We would like to thank the Bolton Film Festival team for their warm welcome and continued commitment to championing independent filmmaking. We look forward to returning in the future and celebrating even more successes from the LFS community.
Here’s to 70 years of filmmaking, and to the filmmakers shaping the next 70.
