NFTS and Prime Video Showcase First Six Films From Directors Workshop

On Thursday 25 May The National Film and Television School and Prime Video held a showcase at the Courthouse Hotel, dedicated to celebrating the six films made by our first cohort of the Prime Video Directors Workshop.

Just over a year ago the NFTS and Prime Video selected Abbey Monteiro, Maxine Sibanda, Mitch Kalisa, Claire Molloy, Nez Khammal and Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan from hundreds of applications to undergo this extensive training programme. Under the guidance of NFTS tutors, led by Shakil Mohammed, these directors had the opportunity to collaborate with a range of industry professionals and have each conceived and delivered an outstanding range of short films.

The films were screened twice in the luxe cinema at the Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch, a screening for the friends and family of our directors, followed by a second screening exclusively for industry guests. Members of the films’ cast were also in the audience, along with members of the crews which were made up of National Film and Television School students and graduates, from producers and composers to production managers and cinematographers.

Funny, thought-provoking, powerful and moving, the short films told unique stories in creative and compelling ways, testament to the Directors passion and commitment to the craft and the training they received during the last 12 months.

Find out more about these six exceptional films:

A Sunday In The Vale Of Tears | Dir. Maxine Sibana

Synopsis

On the eve of her first period, Lwazi discovers she will inherit her grandmother Vatiswa’s empyrean Sangoma abilities. Unwittingly wrapped in this new ineffable world, Lwazi is determined to keep the event of her period a secret from her grandmother in an attempt to escape her inevitable transfiguration into womanhood and mysticism.



Crew

Director/Writer Maxine Sibana

Producer Andrew St Maur

Cinematographer Toby Lloyd

Production Designer Milly White

Art Director Eleanor Dolan

Production Manager Anna Siow

Assistant Directors Matthew Hall, Ezgi Arifoglu, Brianna Leslie, Sharifa Sheikh

Steadicam Lee Brown

Assistant Cameras Josh Baylis, Alastair Searles, Çagri Ustaoglu

Production Sound Mixer Carla Geronimi

1st Assistant Sound Callum Bentley

2nd Assistant Sound Harry King

Editor Donya Maguire

Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer Itzel Gonzalez

Composer Nir Perlman

Compositor Thompson Okuku

Colourist/Online Editor Esther Woodbridge



Cast/Voices

Lwazi Florisa Kamara

Vatiswa Susan Aderin

Grace Praise Olaniyan

Aaliyah Kate Kennedy

A Warrior’s Dance | Dir. Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan

Synopsis

Tobi, a 14-year-old British African boy from Peckham, is given a life-changing opportunity to perform in his school’s cultural show. Despite his father Baba’s wishes for him to focus on his education, Tobi follows his dreams of becoming a dancer and incorporates various African dances, including the powerful Ohafia War Dance, in his routine. Tobi secretly practices the dance, but one day, Baba catches him in the act. Instead of scolding him, Baba is mesmerised by Tobi’s talent and a newfound bond is formed between father and son.



Crew

Director/Writer Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan

Producer Jordi Morera

Cinematographer Linda Wu

Production Designer Gili Ofri

Production Manager Ellie Lomas

Production Co-ordinator Carl Mason

Assistant Directors Daniel Pachalski, Rachel Barkataki, Yaz Evans

Assistant Cameras Joshua Baylis, Alastair Searles, Gulistan Korkmaz

Steadicam Lee David Brown, Sebastien Joly Aco

Production Sound Mixer Callum Bentley

1st Assistant Sound India Holdstock

2nd Assistant Sound Eve Anderson

Editor Chiara Bellesia

Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer Marios Themistokleous

Composer Fabio Amurri

VFX Supervisor Sharavan Kumar Bhrigu

Colourist/Online Editor Nathaniel Skeels

Animation Director Shirel Lebovich

Casting Director Hannah Marie Williams



Cast/Voices

Baba Sule Rimi

Tobi Junior Omorotiowan

Grace Jane Ajia

Yemi Temi Orelaja

Miss Evans Madeline Knight

Bad Indian | Dir. Abbey Monteiro

Synopsis

A coming of age comedy-drama about Abbey, a young woman from Croydon. When Abbey lies to her strict Catholic Indian mother about her rejection from Cambridge University her only method of escapism is to have one memorable night at the infamous Tiger Croydon’s A-Level Results Party. But what happens when the truth she’s been running from violently slaps her in the face?



Crew

Director/Writer Abbey Monteiro

Producer Jordi Morera

Cinematographer Genevieve Reyes

Production Designer Eve Finnie

Production Manager Ellie Lomas

Production Co-ordinator Georgia Pierce

Assistant Directors Daniel Pachalski, Will Mayhew, Sharifa Sheikh

Steadicam Lee David Brown, Ivan Wood

Assistant Cameras Ash Leontyne, Alastair Searles

Production Sound Mixer Callum Bentley

1st Assistant Sound Emily Compton

2nd Assistant Sound Harry King, Zak Ferguson

Editor Frederik Ribergaard

Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer Em Edwards

Composers Marcin Mazurek, Charlie Mackie

Colourist/Online Editor Mara Ciorba



Cast/Voices

Mum Nina Wadia

Abbey Leah Vanmali

Nicole Shanay Neusum-James

Kofi Isaiah St Jean

Rachel Tegan Farrelly

Boy outside club Ty Logan

Bouncer Timothy Mascoll

Black Of My Eye | Dir. Mitch Kalisa

Synopsis

How long can a couple survive before the thirst of something new and exciting overpowers them? Dom invites his date, Leila, back to his house to meet his long term partner Alisha, in an attempt to bring something new to their relationship. But will it be the right move, or is the sacred bound of their relationship not worth this sacrifice?



Crew

Director/Writer Mitch Kalisa

Producer Andrew St Maur

Cinematographer Tom Simington

Production Designer Lillian Caccia

Production Manager Jade Way

Production Co-ordinator Helena Hunt

Assistant Directors Matthew Hall, Tobias Gregory, Rachel Barkataki

Assistant Cameras Josh Baylis, Mesa Barbusci

Production Sound Mixer Ryan Millar

Editor Max Reynolds

Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer Simon Panayi

Composer Jean-Marc Eck

Colourist/Online Editor Esther Woodbridge

Casting Director Xanthe Spencer-Davidson



Cast/Voices

Dom Eric Kole

Alisha Rhianna Dorris

Leila Laura Woodhouse

Borne | Dir. Claire Molloy

Synopsis

When Kate, an isolated and vulnerable young mother struggling to make ends meet is offered help by her neighbour Marie, she finds herself pulled into a community that may not be as virtuous as it seems.



Crew

Director/Co-writer Claire Molloy

Co-writer Anna Moore

Producer Elena Valeri

Cinematographer Toby Elwes

Production Designer Lia Chiarin

Production Co-ordinator Fleur Capocci

Assistant Directors Ashley Gadsby, Matthew Hall, Rebel Fleming, Daniel Pachalski, Lara Mandell

Assistant Cameras Joshua Baylis, Conor Mahoney, Alastair Searles

Production Sound Mixer Erin Millican

1st Assistant Sound Jacob Evans, Callum Bentley

Editor Marie Langin

Sound Designers/Dubbing Mixers Itzel Gonzalez, Etienne Kompis

Composer Jack McCartney

Colourist/Online Editor Aiden Tobin



Cast/Voices

Kate Grace Hogg-Robinson

Marie Sadie Shimmin

Pastor Laura Shipler Chico

Dave the Ferryman Ashley Gadsby

Congregation Members Janet Tansley, Julia Rees, Christine Kelly, Marie Lones, Ray Wilks

See It Say It | Dir. Nez Khammal

Synopsis

A young and optimistic Arab actor struggling to make ends meet, receives a last-minute call for an audition that could change his life. But what starts as a routine journey quickly morphs into a Kafkaesque nightmare of terror and prejudice.



Crew

Director/Writer/Editor Nez Khammal

Producer Elena Valeri

Cinematographer Rui Jiang Ong

Production Designer Lia Chiarin

Production Manager Chris Rej

Production Co-ordinator Olivia Song

Assistant Directors Ciara Gallagher, Helena Mika, Hannah Diver, Harvey Page

Assistant Cameras Gemma Mancinelli, Alastair Searles, Gülistan Korkmaz

Production Sound Mixer Callum Bentley

1st Assistant Sound Domantas Jakubauskas, George Blake

VFX Supervisor Olivier Lemery

VFX Artists Daniel Peoples, Baptiste Andouin

Colourist/Online Editor Vanessa Aparicio



Cast/Voices

Mo Amir El-Masry

Chloe July Namir

Woman/Bar Lady Madeleine Bowyer

Daughter Amélie Bardsley

Dan Grabiner, Head of Originals, UK & Northern Europe Amazon Prime Video said "We're thrilled to be partnering with the NFTS on the Prime Video Directors Workshop. All six directors have directed outstanding films; smart, thought-provoking and visually stunning. Skills development is a huge priority for Prime Video and this workshop is a key strand of our Prime Video Pathway, a three-year, £10 million suite of initiatives to support and diversify our industry."

Jon Wardle, Director of the NFTS said; “It was great to see such incredible results from our first set of directors from the workshop, thanks to the support from Prime Video. We can’t wait to see what this special group continues on to achieve.”

The NFTS and Prime Video would like to give our inaugural directors a huge congratulations and we wish them continued success in the future.

The second cohort of the Prime Video Directors Workshop have begun their training at The National Film and Television School and we can’t wait to see what they create! To find out more about the Prime Video Directors Workshop visit nfts.co.uk/prime-video-directors-workshop