NFTS Science And Natural History Students Run Wild On Knepp Estate

Last month, first-year students from the Directing and Producing Science and Natural History (SNH) course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) travelled to Knepp in West Sussex - once farmland that struggled under the plough since the Second World War - now a trailblazing 3,500-acre rewilding project.

The task? To hone the camera and technical skills they have learnt on the course so far, using them to tell a unique story about the remarkable Knepp landscape.

We get to shoot out in the wild and create interesting films with experts in their field - ultimately you are learning filmmaking and that there are no boring stories.

Joe, current student

Since the site began rewilding in the early 2000’s, life has poured back into Knepp, including some of the rarest creatures in Britain, from nightingales to purple emperor butterflies. Roaming herds of cattle, ponies, pigs and deer shape the land, creating dynamic scrubland, wild meadows, wetland and wood pasture - a perfect opportunity for budding filmmakers to practise their craft!

The students were led by a team of industry professionals, guiding them on the shoot and in the edit including award-winning cinematographer Mark Payne Gill (Queens, Frozen Planet II) and former NFTS Head of SNH Paul Reddish, alongside NFTS SNH graduates Joe Davies and Olly Cummins.
 

I thought a lot of films were about having great shots and a wonderful subject but you can take all of that away and the main thing is story. NFTS really hones that in to us.

Lulu, current student

A beacon of hope for environmentalists and ecologists across the UK, NFTS students aren’t the only filmmakers to be capturing this exceptional example of nature reclaiming land. Sir David Attenborough’s Wonder of Song was shot at Knepp and more recently Wilding, directed by David Allen, told the story of co-owners Charlie Burrel and Isabella Tree, striving to breathe new life into the previously ailing Knepp estate. The inspiring documentary was selected for the BFI London Film Festival and nominated for Best Natural History or Environmental Documentary at the Grierson Awards.

After a few weeks of refining their films in the editing suites back at the NFTS, the students returned to Knepp to screen their films for staff including Wild Futures Manager Ryan Greaves and Lead Ecologist Matt Phelps. Head to NFTS social channels to check out some of the films being shared over the next few days!

NFTS Students at Knepp

Applications are currently open for the NFTS Directing & Producing Science & Natural History MFA!

Apply today at nfts.co.uk/snh