As the term comes to an end, it’s a pleasure to report more outstanding achievements of our students, graduates and alumni. Please 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.
We'd like to extend a big congratulations to Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang (MAF185), Hee Young Pyun (MAF185), Chao Liu (MAF181), Paisley Valentine Walsh (MAF186), Xueqi Wang (MAF194), Yuan Qian (MAF184), Echo Gong (MAF185), Dezhou Li (MAF188), Keenen Yong (MAF185) and Xinyi (Rin) Hong (MAF194) Their debut feature film, All, Or Nothing At All, was screened at the 27th Edition of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
The film was selected for the First Feature Competition and came away with reviews praising its commentary on mass consumerism with meticulous cinematography and lighting, and authentic storytelling rife with symbolic imagery.
Another brilliant success story comes from one of our alumnus, Hanna Humaira (MAIFB8). Her short film, Payung Dara, was recently nominated for the Best Live Action Short Film award at the Indonesian Film Festival 2023 which is the equivalent of the Oscars or BAFTAs. Hanna planned and developed the film during her studies with us, then went on to shoot it with a team in Indonesia after graduating. Payung Dara delivers an important message about sexual harassment that is experienced by young girls during puberty. The film acts as a conversation starter about sexual education and reproductive health with aims to break the stigma and debunk myths that negatively impact the developing girl.
A huge well done to Remi Moses (MAF202) and the entire team behind grad film, Saving Art. The film picked up Best Director at the Big Syn International Film Festival as well as Best Actor at the British Short Film Awards.
Congratulations to Raphael Hernandez (MAF0919), Eng Teck Ng (MAF192) and everyone involved in the making of Rickshaw, which won three awards at NAHEMI Eat Our Shorts Student Film Festival. Best Film in screening 2, Best Cinematography and Best Overall Film.
We'd also like to shine the spotlight on Alissa Autschbach (MAF0918), Peter Hogenson (MAF0918), Mara Vodinelic (MAF0918), Spandana Patanaik (MAF0119), Aditya Sharma (MAF0119), Carolina Ratcliff (MAF0119). Blerta Kambo (MAF0919), Izadora Schoninger (MAF0119), Anastasia Savinova (MAF0919), Sahil Kotwani (MAF0419), Siddharth Joshi (MAF0119), Shezah Salam (MAF0918) and Hannah Owen (MAF0119) for their work on Little Fantasies which Won Best Short Film at Global Shorts LA.
More Grad Film Highlights
Vox Populi had its UK premeire at Raindance where it was nominated for Best UK Short. It hopped across the channel screening at Cannes Indie Short Awards and Festival Tout Courts - Aix-en-Provence (France).
Wetsuit won Best Student Short at Cannes Indie Short Awards (France). Writer-Director: Joao Salgado, DoP: Pablo Garrido Carreras, Editor: Hannah Owen, Co-producer: Mathilde Jouaud, Prod. Design: Gabriela Nemésio Nobre. Congrats to the team!
Sparare alle Angurie continues its run, screening at Oscar Qualifier Leuven International Short FF (Belgium) and Interfilm Berlin 2023 (Germany). Writer-Director-Editor: Antonio Donato, Producer: Patrick Verlin, DoP: Sahil Kotwani, Production Designer: Anastasiya Mykhaylova.
Rickshaw was awarded with Best Cinematography and Best Film at NAHEMI Eat Our Shorts showcase. Congratulations! Writer-Director: Raphael Hernandez, Producers: Anastasia Savinova, Raphael Hernandez, Jaina Liu, Spandana Patanaik, Editor: Mengyao Zhang, DoP: Eng Teck Ng.
Two LFS grad films screened at Linz International Short Film Festival Sun Sets on Beirut was part (Austria) along with Un Dia (Writer-Dir: Nathan Legger, Prod: Nathan Legger & Spandana Patanaik, Co-Producer: Julie Magnaudet, DoP: Lucas Boetsch, Editor: Florian Kasperski.
Sunset on Beirut also screened at Olhares de Mediterraneo (Portugal). Wri-Dir: Daniela Stephan, Prod: Yuanhao Song and Un Día screened at Euroshorts Young Filmmakers 2023 (Poland).
Komşu Sesler screened at the International Film Schoool Festival Tetouan (Morroco). Writer-Dir: Ali Kıvanç Güldürür, Prod: Joao Salgado. DoP: Aditya Sharma, Editor: Mengyao Zhang.
Waiting for Kalki has been accepted to Madurai International Film Festival (India). Writer-Director: Nimay Goswami, DoP: Sahil Kotwani, Composer: Lucas Boetsch.
Checkout this Watersprite Festival interview with grad Mirjana Vlaovic, about her film Your Guardian HERE
This edition of Cornwall Film Festival (UK) includes three LFS films: Waiting for Kalki (Writer-Director: Nimay Goswami, DoP: Sahil Kotwani, Composer: Lucas Boetsch), Your Guardian and Thread Tension (Writer-Dir: Ruby Mastrodimos, Producer: Oliver Staton, Producer: Harry Hayton Iles, Editor: Benjamin Sivo, Sound Design: Ruby Mastrodimos, Costume Design: Anastasiya Mykhaylova).
Your Guardian also screened at Japanese Serbian Film Festival 2023. (Director: Mirjana Vlaovic, Producer: Anastasia Savinova)
Pour Mon Fils has been accepted to Intl Fest of short films of La Côte Bleue (France) and International Film Festival of Larissa 2023 (Greece). Director: Mathilde Jouaud, DoP: Pablo Garrido Carreras, Prod.Desig: Mahee Merica.
Herbert & Humphrey was awarded 'Best International Film' at HaHa Art Film Festival. Dir-Writer: Siddarth Joshi Producer: Antonio Donato, DoP: Sahil Kotwani Prod. Desig: Anastasiya Mykhaylova, Art Director: Kelly Diapère.
Photo Credits (top to bottom)
Wetsuit BTS (writer-director: Joao Espirito Santo Salgado, stills photographer: Ana Paganini)
All, Or Nothing At All still (dir: Jiajun ‘Oscar’ Zhang)
Payung Dara still (dir: Reni Apriliana)
Rickshaw BTS (writer-director: Raphael Hernandez)
Little Fantasies still (dir: Alissa Autschbach)