Not one, not three, but SIX Xaverian Film Studies students have managed to secure a place on the highly prestigious BFI Film Academy which accepts only 18 young people on every year. The course is run from Home – Manchester’s multi-million pound Arts Centre, the patron of whom is Danny Boyle – director of Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire.
The successful students were Megan Heald, Alishbah Ahmed, Elijah Darling, Luca Simi (all pictured) joined by Aimmee Hankinson and Fin Woods.
The course is run by film industry professionals and over this last half term our students have learnt to write, shoot, direct and edit a professional short film that will then be screened at the cinema. They are extremely passionate Film students and the course is giving them tremendous opportunities to get a foot into the highly competitive film industry.
Xaverian Film students have been accepted onto the course every year it has been running, including Tehreem Faisal (who is now working at Pinewood Studios on Indiana Jones 5 and the new Star Wars series for Disney Plus) and Izzy Glenton (who was an editorial assistant on Venom 2 and Black Widow and who now works at Home herself).
Curriculum Leader for Film Studies Phil Drinkwater has praised our student’s motivation and talent – “All six of them are excellent film students whose enthusiasm for the subject shines through in every single lesson. They have already shown they have the drive and knowledge to pursue a career in this industry and I hope their place on the BFI Film Academy brings them a step closer to their dream.”