2026 started with a bang! We've got all the details for you, so get comfortable and read on to learn about the latest achievements of our grads and alumni. If you have any exciting news you’d like to share with us, don’t hesitate to get in touch - we want to hear all about it! Don’t forget you can sign up to our alumni newsletter here to get the updates direct to your inbox.
We have immense pleasure in announcing that London Film School have a significant presence at the this year’s Berlin International Film Festival! Amay Mehrishi’s grad film Abracadabra and Seemab Gul’s film Ghost School will be premiering at Berlinale Generations. Screenwriting student Nicole Woodford and filmmaking alumna Xenia Patricia have been selected to take part in Berlinale Talents 2026, the festival’s prestigious development programme for emerging creatives.
Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana will also have its European premiere at Berlinale Perspectives following its World Premiere at Sundance! A Fantastic Woman, written by LFS screenwriting alumnus Gonzalo Maza and edited and shot by LFS alumni Soledad Salfate and Benjamín Echazarreta respectively, will screen at Berlinale 2026 as part of the 40th anniversary of the Teddy Award, recognising the film’s enduring cultural and cinematic impact.
Huge congratulations to Amay Mehrishi, Nicole Woodford, Xenia Patricia, Gonzalo Maza, Soledad Salfate, Benjamín Echazarreta and Rafael Manuel, and all those involved in making these brilliant films. We look forward to celebrating their work at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival. Bravo!!
Congrats Hollye Swinehart who executive produced and assistant directed the short Seniors which screened at Sundance!
Congratulations Mingxin Li (director), Winfred Wang (producer) and Haohang Shi (DoP) who were selected to take part in the Beijing International Film Festival Training Programme! The training programme aims to further nurture emerging filmmakers who demonstrate both creative talent and strong production capabilities. Well done!
"After completing my LFS graduation film Memories of Zhi, I gained a deeper understanding of genre filmmaking. In my new script developed for the training program, I turn my attention to my hometown - a city frequently struck by earthquakes and typhoons. Focusing on the relationship between humans and nature, I crafted a story about “a supernatural boy whose life is nearing its end on the eve of a major earthquake, and his decision to save an elderly person forgotten by the world.” It is a genre film that blends elements of fantasy and disaster." - Mingxin Li
Remi Moses’ heartfelt grad film Saving Art has seen some great success since its release in 2023. We are excited to report that it is now available to stream on Disney+. Huge congratulations!
Congratulations Naomi Waring whose short film Milk is nominated for the British/Irish Short Film of the Year award by the London Film Critics’ Circle. This year’s nominations span major titles such as Sinners, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Weapons, Bugonia, One Battle After Another, and many more - we’re thrilled for Naomi to have been recognised at an awards ceremony celebrating some of the very best in film! Milk also screened at Aesthetica Short Film Festival and won the Audience Choice Award at the 225 Film Club Festival which is a short film festival promoting female excellence in direction. Big wins!
Patrick Verlin and Edoardo Ulivelli were accepted onto Paolo Sorrentino’s Lab in Argentina! We trust you had an incredible time. Congrats!
Hats off to Jing Zhao whose film How to be a Ghost in Bangkok? screened at London Short Film Festival and at NOWNESS China where it also had a Q&A!
Parker Donaldson’s film Cosmic Cowboys recently premiered at Austin Film Festival which Parker described as a special experience with family, friends and musician Gary P. Nunn who was in the film. It’s lovely to also see that Parker ran into peers Pujit Kalash and Atharva Puranik, who were also at AFF with Pujit’s film Matter. Atharva was a producer on both Pujit’s and Parker’s films too. Big well done to you all!
It’s a pleasure to celebrate Marta Malvestiti’s recent professional milestone - working on the Apple TV series Hijack, starring Idris Elba. Marta worked as a sound trainee and shared: “It was an incredibly meaningful experience and an important step in my career. I’m very grateful for the training and support I received during my time at LFS.” Brilliant work - well done!
Ique Lange has premiered his first feature O Profeta in the Tiger Competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. Watch the trailer here. The feature, produced with the support of Doha Film Institute and Final Cut In Venice 2024, is billed as “a meditation on belief, guilt and spiritual transformation,” partially influenced by Paul Schrader’s Taxi Driver screenplay.
Photo credits (top to bottom)
Abracadabra, wri-dir: Amay Mehrishi
Filipiñana, wri-dir: Rafael Manuel
Seniors, wri-dir: Adam Curley
Winfred Wang, Mingxin Li & Haohang Shi
Saving Art, wri-dir: Remi Moses
Pujit Kalash, Atharva Puranik, Parker Donaldson and Gary P. Nunn