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BAFTA Announces the Nine Finalists for the 2018 Student Film Awards Supported by Global Student Accommodation (GSA)

21 May 2018
student film awards press bannerBAFTA New York/David Beyda
  • Students from the U.S., U.K., Germany and Norway among the finalists, selected from 469 film submissions from 35 countries
  • Gala ceremony to take place Friday, June 29 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles
  • Partners for global expansion to include Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA) and award-winning animation studio LAIKA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has today announced the nine finalists for the 2018 BAFTA Student Film Awards supported by Global Student Accommodation (GSA). Following the international expansion of the Awards in 2017, this year’s finalists have been selected from 469 submissions by students at film schools in 35 countries across the world, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. 

These finalists were chosen from within the previously announced 60 shortlisted films.

"The incredible standard of emerging filmmaking talent across the globe continues to impress, and BAFTA is proud to recognize and support these student filmmakers as they embark on their careers," said Amanda Berry, BAFTA CEO. "We are looking forward to selecting our winners and showcasing their stunning work in June."

Also announced today was the support of Global Student Accommodation (GSA) Group, who will sponsor the Student Film Awards for the first time. Animation studio LAIKA continues as the official sponsor of the BAFTA Student Film Award for Animation.

Nicholas Porter, Chairman, Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA) said, “We are always inspired by what students can achieve and we see their potential on a daily basis as we provide student accommodation, globally. This is a wonderful opportunity to join forces with the BAFTA Student Film Awards to celebrate students’ work as they embark on their filmmaking careers and bring their first filmmaking dreams to reality.”

"We are honored to sponsor the BAFTA Student Film Award for Animation for a second year,” said Travis Knight, President and CEO of LAIKA and last year’s BAFTA winner for Best Animated Film for Kubo and the Two Strings. "BAFTA’s commitment to supporting bold and diverse student filmmakers from across the globe enriches the entire filmmaking industry. LAIKA is proud to team with the British Academy to champion this vital program for emerging artists.”

Film schools worldwide were invited to submit up to nine films for consideration for four top prizes – the BAFTA Student Film Award for Animation presented by LAIKA, the BAFTA Student Film Award for Documentary, the BAFTA Student Film Award for Live Action Film, and the Special Jury Prize, selected by the event’s panel members.

Last week, BAFTA programmed a series of events and seminars for student filmmakers selected for the BAFTA Student Film Awards Shortlist. Students in New York and Los Angeles were treated to interview and networking events with James Schamus, Ron Yerxa, Celine Rattray, Jon Turtletaub, Stacey Offman and other working writers, directors, executives and agents in the hopes of providing them the insight and connections they need to jumpstart their careers. On May 17, parties were held in London, Los Angeles and New York to celebrate the local filmmakers and film schools featured on the shortlist.

BAFTA’s Student Film Awards competition was expanded as part of BAFTA’s growing international footprint, which seeks to foster strong talent connections across the U.K., U.S, Asia and beyond. The expansion also furthers BAFTA Los Angeles’ work within its Access for All campaign, a commitment to ensuring that talented individuals are offered a clear pathway to careers in the entertainment industry, uninhibited by background, demographics or personal circumstance. The campaign will drive funds towards BAFTA Los Angeles’ acclaimed scholarship, education and community initiatives, allowing the organization to discover, support and nurture talented professionals.

The shortlisted films are (listed alphabetically by film title with director names):

FOR ANIMATION
Inanimate
Lucia Bulgheroni
National Film and Television School, U.K.

In a Heartbeat
Beth David and Esteban Bravo
Ringling College of Art and Design, USA

Augenblicke
Kiana Naghshineh
Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany

FOR DOCUMENTARY
Blood Island
Lindsey Parietti
University of the West of England, U.K.

Hale
Brad Bailey
UC Berkeley, USA

Love In 35 MM
Federica Gargarella
Goldsmiths, U.K.

FOR LIVE ACTION
Birthright
Mauritz Brekke Solberg and Daniel Fure Schwarz
Kristiania University College, Norway

My Nephew Emmett
Kevin Wilson
New York University, USA

June
Huay-Bing Law
The University of Texas at Austin, USA

 

The gala ceremony will take place on Friday, June 29, 2018 at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Special Jury members will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the event are now available here. The official hashtag for this year’s awards is #baftastudents.

In 2017, the first-ever BAFTA Student Film Award for Animation presented by LAIKA resulted in a tie between Alicia Jasina from USC for “Once Upon a Line” and Kal Athannassov, John McDonald and Echo Wu from the Ringling College of Art & Design for “The Wishgranter.” The BAFTA Student Film Award for Live Action was presented to Jimmy Keyrouz from Columbia University for “Nocturne in Black,” while both the BAFTA Student Film Award for Documentary and the Special Jury Prize were awarded to Daphne Matziaraki from UC Berkley for “4.1 Miles.” The panel of industry notables included BAFTA® and Oscar® nominated directors Ron Clements and John Musker (Moana, Aladdin, The Princess and the Frog), Oscar® nominated actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, BAFTA® winning actor Ioan Gruffudd (Wales), Emmy® nominated director/producer David Gelb (Chef’s Table), and BAFTA® nominated editor Joan Sobel (Nocturnal Animals). The finalists were selected from over 400 films submitted by schools in 15 countries, with each school submitting their best films for consideration. 

For further information:

Caroline Stegner at Rogers & Cowan
T: (00 1) 310-854-8149
E: [email protected]

About BAFTA and BAFTA Los Angeles

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – featuring workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes – in the UK, USA and Asia; it offers unique access to the world’s most inspiring talent and connects with a global audience of all ages and backgrounds. To access the best creative minds in film, TV and games production, visit www.bafta.org/guru. For more, visit www.bafta.org.

BAFTA Los Angeles serves as a bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities. Its commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of all activity, including an inner-city outreach programme, screenings, seminars, Behind Closed Doors series, Q&As, scholarships for British students studying in the US, and a Heritage Archive project, which preserves in-depth interviews with the industry's leading talents for future generations. BAFTA Los Angeles celebrates and promotes excellence through its annual Britannia Awards, Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties and the Student Film Awards. www.bafta.org/losangeles

About The Theatre at Ace Hotel

The Theatre at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles is Ace's loving re-animation of the historic United Artists Theater. Built in 1927 for the maverick film studio founded by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks, The Theatre stands as a monument to a group of seminal American artists — modern iconoclasts striking out on their own. Ace’s restoration of this majestic space serves as a singular stage for art, film, dance and creative celebration in the heart of the Broadway Theater District’s vibrant modern renaissance. View all upcoming events at The Theatre at Ace Hotel DTLA at theatre.acehotel.com.

About Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA)

Space to Grow
www.gsa-gp.com 

The team at Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA) believes that what we learn as students and take away with us for the rest of our lives is much more than the course we are studying. Perhaps our first home away from home, how we experience that accommodation will be the cornerstone of the story of our student life. That’s why GSA provides students with the security and vibrancy they need to get the most out of university.

GSA creates space to grow for university students by developing, managing and investing in student accommodation across a growing footprint of the world’s top university cities. Students can find a welcoming home away from home at GSA communities in cities across Australia, China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Spain and the UK.

GSA creates communities designed around students under several brands globally – Uninest Student Residences www.Unineststudents.ie; www.unineststudents.de; www.unineststudents.jp/en Student Housing Company www.thestudenthousingcompany.com; www.thestudenthousingcompany.com.au and Nexo Residencias www.nexoresidencias.com/en

Focused on delivering high levels of service, security and attention to detail, GSA’s team aims to deliver the best student living and hospitality experience possible. Five promises underpin its values and are at the heart of its exceptional customer service.

The BAFTA Student Film Awards 2018 are supported by Global Student Accommodation (GSA).

 

About LAIKA

Fueled by the vision of its President & CEO Travis Knight, the animation studio LAIKA was founded in 2005. Located just outside of Portland, Oregon, LAIKA was awarded a Scientific and Technology Oscar® plaque in 2016 for its innovation in 3D printing. All of LAIKA’s four films: Coraline (2009), ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014) and Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) were nominated for an Academy Award® for Outstanding Animated Feature. Kubo and the Two Strings also won the BAFTA for Best Animated Film and received an Oscar® nomination for Visual Effects.  LAIKA’s next film, Missing Link, will be released in Spring 2019 by Annapurna Pictures.  The film boasts a roster of international stars including Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana and Zach Galifianakis.  For more information, visit www.laika.com, @LAIKAstudios, /LAIKAstudios