Eighth Year Of NFTS And BBC Film Scheme Supporting And Developing New Filmmaking Talent
The National Film and Television School (NFTS) and BBC Film are pleased to announce dark comedy Bland as the latest project selected for their Bridge to Industry short film scheme. This is the eighth year the NFTS/BBC Film initiative has championed new voices and emerging filmmaking talent, providing a further opportunity for NFTS graduates to create short films and collaborate with industry leaders, while benefiting from the on-going support of the School.
The 2024 scheme again saw an incredibly high standard of submissions, but after a comprehensive shortlisting and interviewing process with representatives from the NFTS and BBC Film, the panel selected Bland. The darkly comic story follows Will who after experiencing an unexpected act of kindness in a socially dislocated London, is confronted by the blandness of his existence and starts to scavenge for connection.
The film will be written and directed by Royal Television Society award-winning NFTS Documentary MA graduate Hugh Clegg, based on the eponymous novel by Will Rigby and produced by NFTS Producing MA graduate Joanna Vymeris. Joanna, who graduated from the NFTS in 2023, and Hugh in 2022, will work with a team of other NFTS graduates on the film, which will be developed throughout 2024 with anticipated shoot late 2024/early 2025.
Joanna Vymeris and Hugh Clegg
The NFTS filmmakers will receive creative support from BBC Film’s development executives, Alice Ojha and Anu Henriques, who will serve as Executive Producers, alongside NFTS Executive Producer Venetia Hawkes. The film is being financed by BBC Film, and it is intended the film will be showcased on BBC iPlayer following a festival run.
BBC Film’s Alice Ojha and Anu Henriques commented: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our partnership with the NFTS for the eighth year, and to be working with Hugh and Joanna to realise their vision of a bold, darkly comic and ultimately deeply relatable film about loneliness and connection.”
Producer Joanna Vymeris said: “I’m delighted to collaborate with Hugh, BBC Film and the NFTS to bring this absurd but relatable story to life. Bland is stylistically bold, politically important and will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lonely in cities surrounded by people.”
Writer-director Hugh Clegg added: “Two big thumbs up to BBC Film and NFTS for backing this odd film! I can’t wait to collaborate with such a talented development team. And I’m looking forward to the opportunity to push my filmmaking into an exciting new direction.”
Since its inception, the NFTS/BBC Film Bridge to Industry has produced several films that have received acclaim at award ceremonies and top tier film festivals across the world. Stomach Bug, written and directed by Matty Crawford and produced by Karima Sammout-Kanellopoulou has been selected for Toronto International Film Festival 2024. SHÉ (SNAKE), written and directed by NFTS Animation MA graduate Renee Zhan and produced by NFTS Producing MA graduate Jesse Romain, was selected for Sundance Film Festival and SXSW and was awarded the IMDbPro Short Cuts Share Her Journey Award at Toronto International Film Festival. Original Skin, directed by Screen International Star of Tomorrow and NFTS Editing MA graduate, Mdhamiri A Nkemi garnered the Young Director Award at Cannes Lions 2023, and was selected for Tribeca Festival 2024.
Other notable films from the Bridge to Industry scheme include The Passenger, starring Conrad Khan and The Bind, directed by BAFTA winner Caroline Bartleet (Operator) and produced by the award-winning Hélène Sifre (Blue Jean) and Marie-Elena Dyche (How to Have Sex).
The success of these graduates exemplify how the Bridge to Industry initiative serves as a comprehensive pathway for NFTS students and graduates as they transition into the industry. Find out more about this initiative here: nfts.co.uk/life-nfts
Follow in the footsteps of these outstanding graduates by exploring our courses today: nfts.co.uk/places-available