The NFTS’ Producing and Directing Television Entertainment department is celebrating a triple run of success this month.
2013 graduates Tim Partridge and Omar Kenawi have just won the student prize at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards with their short bridges-to-industry film ‘A Human Race’.
‘A Human Race’, directed by Tim Partridge and produced by Omar Kenawi, competed against over 700 other entries to bag first prize in this prestigious competition.
Producer Omar Kenawi who has worked in TV Development and Production at Pioneer Productions since graduating in March, said: “Thank you to the NFTS - we couldn't have done it without the amazing opportunities the school provides. What a place to go, it's really life changing.”
Just 6 months after graduation, two student TV shows – ‘Killer Moves’ and‘Anything You Can Do’ - have been selected for the New York Television Festival’s Independent Pilot Competition.
'Anything You Can Do' Directed by Martina Kabelkova and Produced by Omar Kenawi has been selected for the New York Television Festival and is the only non-American show in the Unscripted Pilot Section. In this lifestyle competition show, two teams from opposite ends of the same profession must change places and master new skills in an alien world.
Martina said: “I am very excited to have our show selected by such a prestigious festival. I can't wait to watch it with the American audience.”
You can watch the trailer here. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uE3EBvzJjYk
‘Killer Moves’, Produced and Co-Written by fellow 2013 graduate Ben Hillyar with (non-NFTS) co-writer David Mayes and Directed by 2013 graduate Tim Partridge has also been selected by the New York Television Festival in the Comedy Pilot section. 'Killer Moves' is a comedy about a shy but sweet contract killer who falls for his next door neighbour, an adventurous Police Officer.
Ben Hillyar and David Mayes have also just signed as comedy writers with David Higham Associates.
Ben said: "I'm absolutely thrilled Killer Moveshas been selected for theNYTVF and can't wait to show our pilot to execs and audiences in New York. I’m grateful to the NFTS for giving me the training, experience and contacts I needed to start a career in TV.”
The NYTVF Official selection page is here - http://www.nytvf.com/2013_ipc_selections.html
And congratulations to graduate Rebecca Casey who has just been named a Broadcast Magazine Hotshot and is featured in a special edition of the influential industry magazine.
Rebecca won a Royal Television Society award for her TV graduation project 'If You Wanna Be My Lodger.’ She then went on to gain an internship at production company Monkey Kingdom while also working on ITV’s 'Dancing on Ice' before joining ITV's ‘Dinner Date’ as a researcher. Just six months after graduating she was given her first break by a TV Executive who had talent spotted her at the NFTS’ Graduation Show and hired her as Assistant Producer.
“I secured a commission for Channel 4 and was given the opportunity to work on a documentary. It was my first experience in documentary and confirmed to me that this was what I wanted to continue doing.” says Rebecca.
She then went on the work on a Sky Living documentary and did a stint as a development producer for ZKK, followed by work at Firecracker Films acquiring commissions on big entertainment TV series as well as one offs with difficult access as well as Assistant Producing on two Channel 4 one-offs 'Sex on Wheels' and an, as yet, untitled film that will be out in October 2013.
Rebecca is now about to Produce a fourth Channel 4 film. Rebecca added: “The NFTS played a huge part in getting me to where I am today, the industry contacts and the chance to produce my own graduate TV programme were invaluable to the progression of my career. I’m very excited about my career in television.”
For more information about the course go to http://nfts.co.uk/our-courses/masters/producing-directing-television-entertainment
To APPLY for the hugely successful NFTS Producing and Directing TV Entertainment MA course, contact the NFTS Registry at info@nfts.co.uk
