2013 Directing Fiction graduate Cathy Brady &2012 Directing Animation graduate Afarin Eghbal celebrated being named ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ at the prestigious Screen International party, hosted at the Langham Hotel, London, last night.
Screen International - the UK's leading film industry magazine - annually picks out the hottest rising talents from behind and in front of the camera and hosts a celebratory party.
Cathy Brady’s graduation film 'Wasted' was selected for this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. From Northern Ireland, her film ‘Small Change’ and NFTS graduation short film ‘Morning’ both won Irish Film awards. Cathy is now working on a feature project with screenwriter Laura Lomas, who she previously collaborated with, on a short for Channel Four’s Coming Up strand called Rough Skin.
Speaking at the Stars of Tomorrow event, Cathy said she hoped being named a ‘Star of Tomorrow’ would help her directing career: “I hope this opens opportunities to meet more people, have my ideas heard and that it enables me to make more films.”
Following the amazing success of her animated documentary film 'Abuelas', which was nominated for a BAFTA, has been shown at over 150 festivals and won almost 70 awards, Afarin Eghbal is working on several feature projects including ‘The London Syndrome’.
Afarin said: “The success of Abuelas has been fantastic, but I’m keen to show that I don’t just direct documentary animation; I’m interested in all mediums. What I’m most interested in is the subject matter and at the moment I’m hoping to film a live action film.”
‘The London Syndrome’ is a low budget live action psychological horror film whose senior crew are all NFTS graduates, including Producer Len Rowles and Writer Frances Poletti.
“We are all from different graduation years but when we met up there was a real meeting of minds. NFTS graduates are just the best,” added Afarin.
Don’t miss your chance to join the Directing Animation MA course starting in September or the Directors Series short course held from 29 July – 23 August. Apply before July 11.
Scholarships and bursaries are available for our MA courses.
You can read about the NFTS and the “Stars of Tomorrow” feature in the latest edition (June-July) issue of Screen International or online here
Picture: Afarin Eghbal and Cathy Brady at the Screen International event.
