Ethel Wu’s graduation film Life Ink has won the Best Student Short at the Roma Independent Film Festival.
The film, which was produced and shot in the UK and Taiwan, tells the story of Lee, a grieving police chief who is struggling to get over the loss of a loved one. He keeps all his emotions locked inside, until one day he meets a tattoo artist who tells him about a special ink that can open a window for people who have lost someone …
Shot by LFS DOP Sin Yuan, edited by Terence Chim and 1st AC’d by Yingqing Gong, the film had its international premiere at the RIFF. Of the award, writer/director Ethel said, “Of course I am happy for the news, but it also feels unreal at the same time. Because I didn't attend the screening in Rome, for me it’s a weird feeling that my film has shown in a different place and actually won an award. I am very pleased that the audience and juries liked it!”
Ethel, who is from Taichung in Taiwan and who had previously studied at Goldsmith’s in London, graduated from London Film School on Monday and is currently based in Taiwan where she works as a freelance director and AD whilst developing a new script. “I met so many amazing and talented people and learnt so much from my colleagues and LFS staff,” she says. “LFS is a great place for learning while making films together.”
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Festival Information
The Roma Independent Film Festival (RIFF) takes place in November and is Rome's first independent and international film festival. Its aim is to unite enthusiasm for films and filmmaking among young filmmakers with the realities of film production and distribution. RIFF is a seven-day celebration of new European and international independent films. As well as offering the chance for young filmmakers to present their work to the general public at film screenings, RIFF offers a series of special events designed to stimulate enthusiasm and create discussion: retrospectives, seminars and workshops on various aspects of cinema, as well as exhibitions, collaborations with theatre, dance, fashion, and music concerts. The festival concludes with an awards ceremony, The RIFF Awards, which awards prizes of either monetary value or money in-kind. The winning films, in a number of categories, are chosen by an international jury of experts from various fields within the film industry.