NFTS Short SHÉ (SNAKE) Selected for Sundance 2024
The National Film and Television School (NFTS) is thrilled to announce that SHÉ (SNAKE) has been selected for Sundance Film Festival 2024! Made by NFTS graduates, the film, directed by Renee Zhan and produced by Jesse Romain, is a ‘Bridge to Industry’ production, the School’s initiative to provide students and graduates with further opportunities to create shorts, films and promos with our industry partners, in this case BBC Film, while continuing to be supported by the NFTS.
The Sundance Film Festival is the ultimate gathering of original storytellers and audiences seeking new voices and fresh perspectives. The 53 short films selected for the 2024 line-up were chosen from 12,098 submissions, the highest number on record, with SHÉ (SNAKE) one of only three selected from the UK!
This is the second year that a film by Renee and Jesse has been selected for Sundance. Their funny and intimate animation, Soft Animals, made during their time at the NFTS, was selected last year for the Shorts Animated Programme.
A wildly creative combination of horror comedy and teenage psychodrama, SHÉ (SNAKE) follows a tightly wound violinist in a London youth orchestra whose internal monsters take external forms when pressures start to mount.
Jesse, the film's Producer said; “We are so immensely proud to be screening our short at Sundance. It was a lot of work but also a huge amount of fun and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of BBC Film and the National Film and Television School.”
Renee and Jesse
Festival Director and Head of Public Programming Eugene Hernandez said; “Our outstanding Short Film program selection, chosen from more than 12,000 submissions, welcomes the next generation of voices and storytellers to watch. In gathering some of the extraordinary artists who have been part of our history along with our community of emerging creators and audiences, we hope to demonstrate Sundance’s role as the premier place for international discovery and the vitality of independent cinema.”
The 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival takes place in person and online from 18-28 January 2024.
The National Film and Television School is incredibly proud of what Renee and Jesse have achieved following their time studying with us. If you’re attending Sundance 2024, SHÉ (SNAKE) is not one to miss!
While at the NFTS, Renee studied the Directing Animation MA and Jessie was a student of the Producing MA. Both are highly collaborative, two year courses. Applications open on 8th January 2024.