This month we’re celebrating our alumni who have been working in the UK and around the world making their mark on the screen industries. We love to hear from our alumni so get in touch if you have any news you’d like to share and sign up to our alumni newsletter here to get the updates direct to your inbox.
Well done to Martina Lisec (MAS 16) whose short screenplay, a drama, called Above The Bridge, became a semi-finalist at the Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards in the Spring 2023 edition. Above the Bridge is about an elderly, widowed woman trapped in grief, ignoring her increasingly suffering body, and must learn to let go before it becomes her undoing.
Zhannat Alshanova (MAF 186) is developing Present Perfect with UK production company, The Fold, founded by Michelle Stein and Jennifer Monks. Zhannat’s previous short films have played Cannes and Sundance, developed with Film4.
Koby Adom (MAF 183) has recently been working with London Mayor, Sadiq Khan and LADbible group, directing the video for the Have A Word campaign. Check out the full-length video here. Say Maaate to a Mate | London City Hall. More of Koby’s work has also recently been recognised internationally. Dreaming Whilst Black, BBC’s BAFTA-winning comedy has been picked up for distribution in the US by Showtime. Koby directed two episodes of the series with other territory deals near to completion too.
Great to hear about Andrew Keresztes (MAF 180) who has been accepted into BAFTA as a Connect member!
Screenwriting alumnus, Josh Willdigg (MAS 13) has been working on a multi-year art and football project with curator, Hans Ulrich Obrist and footballer, Juan Mata, which has just debuted at Manchester International Festival. The Trequartista Project is performance art, that brings together 11 contemporary artists and 11 footballers to produce new works inspired by the legendary Trequartista position in football. Find out more about the project and read The Guardian’s review here.
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. This month Despina has also been selected for BAFTA Connect - huge congratulations!
Emanuele Bonomi (MAF 186) is the editor for The Meatseller, a short animated film that it's in the official selection at this year's Venice Film Festival in the Orizzonti Competition. Being part of the festival is a massive achievement, we’re hugely proud of Emanuele. The film is directed by Margherita Giusti and produced by director-writer-producer Luca Guadagnino. Find out more here Biennale Cinema 2023 | The meatseller (labiennale.org)
Brilliant news that Ishaya Bako’s I Do Not Come To You By Chance has been selected for the TIFF Centrepiece programme. Formerly called Contemporary World Cinema, the Centrepiece programme includes 47 titles representing 45 countries. Bako’s film is the adaptation of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani‘s award-winning 2009 novel. Read more here. Toronto International Film Festival shines spotlight on the unmissable 2023 Centrepiece programme (tiff.net)
Photo Credits (top to bottom)
Still from I Do Not Come To You By Chance (Dir: Ishaya Bako)
Behind the scenes for the Have A Word campaign by Koby Adom
The team behind The Trequartista, co-curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, Juan Mata and Josh Willdigg
Despina Ladi
Poster from The Meatseller (Dir: Margherita Giusti)