The NFTS has been given the prestigious prize in recognition of the role it has played developing British creative talent for nearly 50 years. It is the first time an educational institution has been given the award.
In addition, our students did us proud by winning their fifth consecutive British Short Animation BAFTA with Poles Apart directed by Paloma Baeza and produced by Ser En Low.
If that wasn’t enough, Producing MA graduate, Emily Morgan along with the film’s director and writer, Rungano Nyoni won Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer for I Am Not A Witch. And NFTS Cinematography graduate, Roger Deakins clocked up his fourth BAFTA winning the Cinematography award for Blade Runner 2049.
NFTS Director Jon Wardle and Former NFTS Director Nik Powell collected the Oustanding British Contribution to Cinema BAFTA from award-winning actress Celia Imrie. Jon delivered a powerful speech describing how for almost five decades the NFTS “has been at the forefront of developing film, television and now games makers who are not only highly valued members of the industry widely in demand, but who also have the skills, talent and social conscious to lead it.” Jon paid tribute to NFTS founder Colin Young who wanted to develop a school that is dedicated to the idea that “filmmakers should be missionaries for a better way of life”. Continuing, Jon said: “Colin imbued in our students not only a sense of purpose but a spirit of confidence, of fearlessness, of risk taking. And those qualities have been central to our school’s ethos ever since.”
“You can see those qualities in the work our students produce at the school and you can see it in the work of the 10 students and graduates nominated for BAFTAs tonight. From Roger Deakins for Blade Runner 2049, to Stuart Wilson for Star Wars and Dario Marianelli for Darkest Hour through to more recent graduates such as Emily Morgan and Paloma Baeza who competed and won in the Best Debut and Short film Categories. At the NFTS our goal is to ensure that the future Roger Deakins or Emily Morgan – wherever they may come from and whatever their means – have the opportunity and support to reach their full potential.
“But we can’t do that on our own. We are therefore hugely indebted to those who, year in and year out, continue to support the School including the DCMS, BFI, HEFCE, Creative Skillset, Channel 4, BBC, Sky, ITV, the Film Distributors Association and UK Cinema Association. As well as more than 80 annual scholarship donors, trusts and foundations. Thank you we couldn’t do it without you.”
2018 was a record year for NFTS with ten individual BAFTA nominations for its alumni and 119 alumni credited across the nominated films. Nominations included:
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer
Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly (Producer) – Lady Macbeth (Fodhla was nominated with Writer, Alice Birch and Director, William Oldroyd)
Outstanding British Film
Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly (Producer) – Lady Macbeth (Fodhla was nominated with Writer, Alice Birch and Director, William Oldroyd)
Animated Film
Original Music
Dario Marianelli – Darkest Hour
Sound
Stuart Wilson – Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Stuart was nominated with Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Matthew Wood)
British Short Film
Mahdi Fleifel – A Drowning Man (Mahdi was nominated with Signe Byrge Sorensen and Patrick Campbell)
Aneil Karia – Work (Aneil was nominated with Scott O’Donnell)
Ingenious has recently named a wind turbine at Newton Down Wind Farm in Porthcawl, South Wales in recognition of local resident Robert McCann.
A neighbour to Newton Down Wind Farm, Robert noticed that the site’s front gate had been forcefully damaged whilst on a walk close to the property. Robert took great lengths to contact the site managers as soon as possible and the issue was quickly resolved.
Roberto Castiglioni, Senior Investment Director of Infrastructure at Ingenious said “Collaborating with the local community is fundamental to the success of Ingenious clean energy initiatives, so we are grateful that Robert contacted us when he noticed something out of the ordinary at our property.”
Ingenious asked Robert if he would like to take the opportunity and name one of the wind turbines at Newton Down Wind Farm. Robert was heartened by the gesture. As he recently lost a long-time companion in his pet cat Lucy, he dedicated the wind turbine to her memory. The team met Robert last month at the facility to hold a naming ceremony and to unveil the plaque.
Robert’s community dedication and shared enthusiasm for clean energy is much appreciated by Ingenious and they are delighted to have him as a neighbour.
NFTS Signs First Look Deal with Endemol Shine UK
The NFTS has signed a deal with Endemol Shine UK , one of the UK’s largest independent production companies, which grants a first look at graduation projects from the School’s Directing and Producing Television Entertainment MA.
102 NFTS Alumni Credits at 2018 Edinburgh Film Festival
This year, an incredible 102 NFTS students and graduates are credited across the feature films and short films selected for and in competition at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, which takes place from the 20th June until the 1st July. NFTS graduation animations; Inanimate directed by Lucia Bulgheroni and Facing It directed by Sam Gainsborough are to compete for the McLaren Award for Best New British Animation at the festival, which was won last year by NFTS graduation animation, Poles Apart, directed by Paloma Baeza.
NFTS Leads the Way in 2018 Student RTS Television Awards with 19 Nominations
Nominations have been announced for this year’s Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards and the NFTS leads the way in the postgraduate categories with an incredible 19 nominations overall. These include eight nominations for graduation programmes and films in the Animation; Comedy and Entertainment; Drama; and Factual categories plus two nominations in the Short Feature category for projects made by NFTS students as part of the annual Kodak Student Commercial Awards.
Ingenious-backed Calibre, the debut feature from UK writer-director Matt Palmer, has taken the top prize at the 72nd Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF, June 20-July 1).
The film, which received its world premiere at the festival and has a worldwide release on Netflix on June 28, received the Michael Powell award for best British feature film.
Ingenious is rolling out a £100m TV-focused venture capital fund to help early-stage production businesses grow while maintaining their independence.
The investment firm’s Vision fund – which is overseen by ex-Field Day Chief Executive Debbie Manners together with Ingenious Investment Director Harry Eastwood – is intended to help fledgling indies access growth capital without tying themselves into restrictive deals with distributors or broadcasters.
Under the new partnership, Ingenious will cover 50% of the equity investment required to fund each picture produced and financed by AGC as well as providing additional debt financing.
Part of AGC Capital, AGC Studios is a new content creation and global licensing studio recently launched by IM Global founder and former CEO Stuart Ford.
The fast growing AGC announced the hiring of Academy Award® winning film producer Greg Shapiro as its head of film in March. Ingenious Media has also made a string of senior appointments in recent months, including Will Harrison, previously Chief Commercial Officer for the Harry Potter Franchise Group at Warner Bros, as Managing Director and film finance veteran, Peter Touche, as Head of Film.
Peter Touche brokered the co-financing deal with AGC Studios COO Miguel Palos.
As a longstanding and proud supporter of Inside Pictures, Ingenious hosted this year’s Networking Drinks and Module 1 activities.
Inside Pictures is an intensive film business training and leadership development programme presented by the National Film and Television School. Supported by Creative Europe and Creative Skillset, the programme is for film industry executives from all disciplines and is designed to develop the skills needed to lead successful businesses.
Investment Director of Ingenious Media, Andrea Scarso, was a member of the 2017 Inside Pictures class. Through the programme, Andrea gained a better understanding of the global film business and the key players within it, along with a deeper insight into marketing strategy and audience analysis. Perhaps most importantly, Andrea expanded his network of key industry contacts across the globe.
“Inside Pictures is one of the only executive training programmes in the film business that could really add value to your career. The speakers, ambassadors, participants, alumni and the team running Inside Pictures are all top executives in the industry, therefore providing a network of unrivalled value.”
Ingenious is proud to be the largest sponsor of the award-winning NFTS. Since 2009, we have continued to be the NFTS’s biggest sponsor with both Patrick McKenna and Neil Forster sitting on the Board. Over the years, we have taken the lead on multiple initiatives including a £15 million redevelopment programme, doubling the availability of courses and student places, as well as opening a brand new school in Scotland. The prize consists of a silver-gilt medallion and a Prize Certificate signed by HM The Queen. “The world’s best film school”
The Observer
Filming of the new Ingenious-funded Judy Garland biopic Judy, starring Renee Zellweger, continued in London this week. Set in 1969, the film tells the story of Garland arriving in London to perform a sell-out run of shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Judy will recount some of Garland’s final performances ahead of her eventual death in June of that year, and has been scripted by Pride and The Crown writers David Livingstone and Tom Edge.
Read more here:
Filming of the new Ingenious-funded Judy Garland biopic Judy, starring Renee Zellweger, continued in London this week. Set in 1969, the film tells the story of Garland arriving in London to perform a sell-out run of shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Judy will recount some of Garland’s final performances ahead of her eventual death in June of that year, and has been scripted by Pride and The Crown writers David Livingstone and Tom Edge.
Read more here:
