The British Academy of Film and Television Arts has today announced the nine finalists for the 2017 BAFTA Student Film Awards. Following the recently announced international expansion of the Awards, this year’s finalists have been selected from over 400 submissions by students at film schools in 15 countries across the world, including Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Germany, India, Israel, Lebanon, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
These finalists were chosen from within the previously announced 45 shortlisted films.
Also announced today was the addition of animation studio LAIKA, who joins as the official sponsor of the first ever BAFTA Student Film Award for Animation. Other sponsors for the event include new presenting sponsor Bank Leumi USA as well as returning sponsors AKA and AFEX.
This year, select 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 Student Film Award for Documentary, the Student Film Award for Live Action Film, and the Special Jury Prize, selected by the event’s panel members.
BAFTA’s Student Film Awards competition was expanded this year as part of BAFTA’s growing international footprint, which seeks to foster strong talent connections across the globe. The expansion also furthers BAFTA Los Angeles’ work within its newly launched 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 finalists are (listed alphabetically by Film Title):
FOR ANIMATION
ADAM
Directed by: Evelyn Jane Ross, Rhode Island School of Design
Course of Study: Film/Animation/Video
ONCE UPON A LINE
Directed by: Alicja Jasina, USC
THE WISHGRANTER
Directed by: Kal Athannassov, John McDonald, Echo Wu, Ringling College
FOR DOCUMENTARY
4.1 MILES
Directed by: Daphne Matziaraki, UC Berkeley
THE FEMALE VOICE
Directed by: Julia dos Santos, Goldsmiths, University of London
LIVING BEHIND NUMBERS
Directed by: Martin Read, University of South Wales
FOR LIVE ACTION
DEKALB ELEMENTARY
Directed by: Reed Van Dyk, UCLA
FUCKING DRAMA
Directed by: Michael Podogil, Filmakademie Wien
NOCTURNE IN BLACK
Directed by: Jimmy Keyrouz, Columbia University
The gala ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2017 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.
In 2016, the BAFTA US Student Film Award, as it was previously named, was presented to Clara Roquet from Columbia University for “El Adiós” and the Special Jury Prize was awarded to Seth Boyden from California Institute for the Arts for “An Object At Rest”. The panel of Hollywood luminaries included BAFTA nominee Yann Demange (’71), BAFTA and Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (Inside Out), The Hollywood Reporter Film Critic and Editor Jon Frosch, BAFTA and Academy Award® winner William Goldenberg (Argo, The Imitation Game), actress Ashley Madekwe (Salem, Revenge), and STX Entertainment President Sophie Watts. The finalists were selected from 245 films submitted by 56 schools across the US, with each school submitting their best films for consideration.
For further information:
Elyse Weissman at SLATE PR
310-461-0114
[email protected]
