The 2021 Grierson Awards saw a fifth successive win for an NFTS student project with Tease, an NFTS Directing Documentary film directed by Jessica Brady who graduated earlier this year. The prestigious All3Media Best Student Documentary award was presented by Alison Hammond at a star studded ceremony in London.
The Grierson Trust commemorates the pioneering Scottish documentary maker John Grierson, the man widely regarded as the father of the documentary.
Tease sees the director of the film, Jessica Brady delving into the world of online sex workers by becoming one herself using a false persona on OnlyFans. Realising it's not as straightforward as she first thought, she begins pushing her own boundaries to attract followers. But will it ever be enough?
The Grierson Trust judges said of Tease: “Watching the director hurl herself into the world of online sex work made for a compelling story from the get-go. The judges were impressed by the bravery and vulnerability of the filmmaker as the subject. They commended the intelligently crafted narrative, clever use of graphics and skilful editing supporting this well-rounded personal exploration project.”
Commented on the win for Tease, the film's director Jessica Brady commented: "In documentary filmmaking, there are always unexpected changes, obstacles and frustrating restrictions. A national lockdown at the beginning of a pandemic was a much bigger obstacle than any of us could have anticipated. I am so proud of the team for managing to pull off such a bold idea under these circumstances and grateful to the NFTS for taking a risk and giving us the space to make a film which really pushes boundaries. This was an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life."
Lorraine Heggessey, Chair of The Grierson Trust said: “It’s been another extraordinary year in documentary filmmaking and our winners reflect the dynamic and sometimes tumultutous times we live in – whether wowing us with films reflecting the cutting edge of medical science, spotlighting repression and political corruption, or delving into the defining issues of our time. It is thrilling to see an industry that is thriving and continuing to make bold, powerful films told through dedication, compassion and expertise.”
This is the 13th year running that NFTS students have made it to the nomination stage of the Grierson Awards and last night marks the eighth time NFTS graduates have won the All3Media Best Student Documentary Award since the category started in 2011. 2020 Graduation film Miss Curvy took home the award last year.
The NFTS would like to extend a huge congratulations to the graduate team who made this brave and bold film, all while navigating a global pandemic.
- The NFTS Tease Crew
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Director Jessica Brady
Producers Jessica Brady, Danielle Goff
Production Manager Fabiana Tesauro
Editor Lesley Posso
Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer Henry Sims
Composer Alastair McNamara
Colourist/Online Editor Nigel Tadyanehondo
Want to create award-winning documentaries?
Find out more about the NFTS Directing Documentary course here: nfts.co.uk/directing-documentary
