For the first time in history, two short films made by students and recent graduates from NFTS have been nominated for Academy Awards.
NFTS student graduation film The Bigger Picture directed by Daisy Jacobs has been nominated for Best Short Film – Animation and Boogaloo and Graham directed by recent graduate (2011) Michael Lennox has been nominated for Best Short Film – Live Action.
Both of these films are among the four films directed and produced by NFTS students and graduates that have been nominated for EE BAFTA Awards.
‘The Bigger Picture’ directed by Daisy Jacobs, produced by Chris Hees and co-written by Jennifer Majka, is a larger than life-size animated film that tells the stark and darkly humorous tale of caring for an elderly parent. It has already won more than 25 film festival awards - a staggering achievement for a student graduation film.
‘The Bigger Picture’ is the 7th NFTS film to receive a nomination in the main Academy Awards.
Director Daisy Jacobs said: “I'm thrilled to be nominated for the Oscar and to have our film recognised as one of the best. I'm delighted that what I love doing is something others value.”
Producer Chris Hees said: “'We have had an amazing run of festival selections and awards last year and to start 2015 with a BAFTA an Oscar nomination is fantastic. Daisy and the team put so much work into achieving The Bigger Picture so it is great to see the film being enjoyed by so many audiences. We're very proud of what we have achieved so far and we'll look forward to the ceremonies in February.'
You can watch a trailer for The Bigger Picture here… http://vimeo.com/87007946
‘Boogaloo and Graham’ is a coming of age film, set in the 1970s, about two boys from Belfast who discover the facts of life with help from their pet chickens. It stars Martin McCann and Charlene McKenna and was directed by (2011) NFTS graduate Michael Lennox. It was made with funding from Northern Ireland Screen through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the BFI and is also nominated for an EE BAFTA British Short Film Award. Michael Lennox is currently in post-production with his debut feature film A Patch of Fog.
Michael Lennox, director Boogaloo and Graham said: “It feels like a whirlwind. It’s only been three years since I left the NFTS – never in a millions years did I expect to receive a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination. I am massively thankful. I just started editing my first feature film on Monday so I couldn’t have wished for a better start to 2015!”
The 87th Academy Awards ceremony is at the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles on the 22nd February.
Here is a fuller list of credits for the films involving NFTS students and graduates:
The Bigger Picture [NFTS]:
Writer/Director/Animator Daisy Jacobs; Producer Chris Hees; Co-Writer Jennifer Majka; DoP Max Williams; Designer Elo Soode; Production Assistant Gemma Priggen; Editor Vera Simmonds; VFX Artist Janusz Tomczyk; Sound Editor/Rerecording Mixer Jonas Andreas Jensen; Composer Huw Bunford; VFX Supervisor/Online Editor/Grade Ross Allen.
Booglaoo and Graham:
Director Michael Lennox; Editor Livia Serpa; Sound Designer/Rerecording Mixer Steve Bond; Composer Jered Sorkin
Roger Deakins secured his twelfth nomination in the Best Cinematography category for his work on Angelina Jolie’s film Unbroken. Roger Deakins also contributed to one of the Best Animated FeatureFilm nominated films as Visual Consultant on How To Train Your Dragon 2. Also in this category is The Boxtrolls, which had a score composed by Dario Marianelli.
NFTS graduates also contributed to two of the contenders for the Best Picture Award: The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything (see credits below).
Two of the films nominated for Best Production Design are Into the Woods and Mr. Turner, which both had alumni talent in the Art Department.
Our VFX/SFX graduates have credits on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Dawn of Planet of the Apes and Guardians of the Galaxy, which are competing for the Best Visual Effects Award;
A potential winner for the Best Documentary Feature award is the film Virunga which was edited by Miikka Leskinen.
Good luck to all the graduates concerned. The Academy Awards ceremony is on February 22.
Previous awards forThe Bigger Picture.
*THIRD PRIZE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2014**
**WINNER ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL GRADUATION CRISTAL 2014**
**WINNER MANCHESTER KINOFILM BEST ANIMATION 2014**
**WINNER EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 'MOST INNOVATION' 2014**
**WINNER GRAND PRIX ANIBAR STUDENT COMPETITION**
**WINNER HIROSHIMA GRAND PRIX 2014**
**WINNER BEST FILM FANTOCHE 2014**
**WINNER MESSAGE TO MAN BEST ANIMATION**
**WINNER DOK LEIPZIG SILVER DOVE**
**WINNER BRADFORD ANIMATION FESTIVAL BEST STUDENT FILM**
