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 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