Page 18 - Fujifilm Exposure_15 Melinda Messenger_ok

THE FUJIFILM SCH
THE FUJIFILM SCH
W ho’d have thought that becoming a film
director would involve so much walking and lifting? Liberty Lindley, from the Northern Film
School, certainly found out how much as she and various key members of her crew picked up no fewer than seven trophies at this year’s Fujifilm Scholarship Awards.
What with those prizes, and two runners-up spots, her short film Wolf In An Arran Sweater was the undoubted star of the show at BAFTA in October. A first time entrant, the diminutive Ms Lindley seemed slightly embarrassed by all the attention, but was delighted that her and her team’s hard work was rewarded so resoundingly.
“I’m delighted,” she beamed after- wards, “it’s such a team effort, and we had such a short pre-production time but everyone pitched in brilliantly. To see them all pick up an award is thrilling - but quite shocking as well, I have to say.”
A tale of sexual attraction, friend- ship, betrayal and magic, Wolf In An Arran Sweater impressed guest of honour Stephen Frears, who must have felt like an old friend to Lindley and Co by the end of the morning long presentation.
An acclaimed director with films like Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters , High Fidelity and, most recently, Liam (photographed on Fuji by
Andrew Dunn BSC) to his credit, Frears noted the high standard of entrants but cautioned against get- ting too swept up in the idea of com- petition being an end in itself.
“Competitions are of no interest at all,” he nods, “if you win one in a way it’s downhill from there. I teach film students so I knew that they’re hard working and bright. I expected the standard to be good, and it was.
“But what’s good is that there are sixteen films being made, it does- n’t matter if you win or not. You learn from your peers, they teach you, because you observe what they’re doing. That’s how I learned about making films.”
One person with a unique insight into the standard attained by the class of 2000 is former newsreader Martyn Lewis, who has been compering these Fuji awards for over 10 years. He has seen a steady rise in quality of entrants, and a subtle change in the make up of the student filmmakers massed before him.
“The biggest difference is the fact that the films we see in competition are not necessarily first time films,” he explains, “where 10 years ago it might have been. These days the film students, and they may not always be so young judging from how some people enter the industry, bring a wealth of experience to their work. And I think that’s reflected in the higher quality of entries.
“It’s always been very high, but it’s now at the point where I think pret-
ty much any of them could be shown on television or the big screen without any trouble at all. That’s very exciting.
“The great thing about this is that it’s a terrific breeding ground for
young people. It’s acknowledging their achievement and it’s giving them a high profile, as well as an opportunity to get to meet people who have got major contacts in the
Photos main: The winning entry, Wolf In An Arran Sweater, photos along bottom (l to r) - Winning crew The Northern Film School; second place winner Midnight Raid from the London International Film School crew: third place
EXPOSURE • 16 & 17