Sam Shetabi: Award Winner

17 June 10

Going to a BAFTA ceremony was always going to be one of ‘those’ moments in my life I remember forever. The anticipation in the days, weeks, even months before the big day were at times comically unbearable! But way before we took the coach up to London for the ceremony I’d reasoned with myself that I wasn’t going to win – come on, that would just be MAD, wouldn’t it? – and coached my friends to talk down the whole ‘BAFTA’ thing so I could just enjoy the experience…

To go on and be awarded the big prize took my breath away...

All of which probably explains the deranged, bumbling, over-excited baboon that I became when they said I’d actually won! WON?! Out of God knows how many applicants who applied way back in October, to go on and be awarded the big prize took my breath away… as the audience could probably tell as I stumbled through an unrehearsed thank you sermon!

If the excitement of being at such a classy event (way above the station of a mere student!) was enough to have me bouncing off the walls, you can imagine how meeting countless award-winning technicians and creatives, getting my face in the BBC’s Ariel newspaper and getting a kiss on the cheek from Effy from Skins (such bragging rights…!) had me on cloud 9 not just all night, but pretty much ever since.

That night, I had a chance to see what it would be like if all the cogs fall into place – everything I’m learning on my bursary placement, all the contacts I’ve made and all the practice I’ve gained at university and at school – and if I really work hard then I have a real chance of making something of myself in this incredible industry. Fingers crossed that BAFTA ceremony won’t be my last!

BAFTA/Richard Kendal

BAFTA/Steve Finn

Watch Sam's Video 'Our Day at the BAFTAs':

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