The LFA Annual Showcase 2024 took place on Friday, 25 October, at the renowned BFI Southbank, a landmark of British cinema.
The British Film Institute is known for curating an impressive range of classic, independent, and international films. It remains a hub for emerging filmmakers, making it the perfect venue to celebrate our graduates' work.
This year's event honoured the remarkable achievements of our talented graduates from the BA (Hons) Filmmaking, MA Filmmaking and MA Screenwriting. Their films screened to an audience of family, friends, the LFA Team, and industry professionals, truly highlighting their creativity, dedication, and vision.
With over two decades of championing excellence, LFA continues to cultivate the next generation of filmmakers, from first-time movie makers to seasoned postgraduates. The talent on display was remarkable, with each student’s work leaving a lasting impression on the audience. The momentous applause from the closing credits echoed the hard work and passion poured into every frame.
Esteemed compere Danny Leigh, chief film writer at the Financial Times, guided the day's events. As our Joint Principal, Daisy Gili, reflected on the accomplishments of the Class of 2024, it was clear that these graduates are poised to make a significant impact in the film industry.
Many have already begun to leave their mark with their projects, such as BA (Hons) Filmmaker Andreas Van Riet’s ‘Andy & Lucy: Watch TV’ and fellow BA Charlie Langford’s ‘Hold of the Dead’, having earned recognition at prestigious international film festivals, including the Special Jury Prize at the Trivento Soulplace Film Festival. Individual talents like MA Filmmaking student Jinkyung Song have also gained accolades for their compelling short films. The recent triumphs at the Kodak/Nahemi Student Commercial Awards further showcase their versatility and creativity. As they graduate, these students and the rest of their cohort leave with a strong foundation and a wealth of accomplishments to propel them into the film industry.
The celebration reached new heights with special guests, BAFTA-nominated director and cinematographer Molly Manning-Walker and film producer Ivana Mackinnon. Molly won the Un Certain Regard Grand Prix at Cannes for her debut feature ‘How to Have Sex’ (2023) and earned a BIFA nomination for her cinematography on ‘Scrapper’ (2023), which won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize.
Ivana is known for associate producing films like ‘The Descent’ and founding Stray Bear Productions, which produced ‘Jonah’ (which premiered at Sundance), and executive produced ‘War Book’. She now develops TV and film projects and mentors for several film networks. Both offered inspiring advice to the graduating class as they step into the professional world of filmmaking.
The day concluded with our talented student representatives expressing the sense of pride and community felt across the Academy. Special congratulations to our LFA Emerging Filmmakers winners: BA (Hons) Filmmaking student Matu Harvey, MA Filmmaker Emma Jefferson and MA Screenwriter Estée Poichot, who received sponsored prizes from Focus Canning, including professional camera kit hire to support their next projects.
To help our students create their independent films, we have teamed up with trusted camera services provider Focus Canning for a third consecutive year to offer LFA students and recent graduates discounts of up to 40% off list prices for equipment hire. The discount level depends on the equipment requested and is subject to availability. Standard terms and conditions apply.
The celebrations continued into the evening, where graduates, faculty, and guests mingled over drinks and nibbles. It was a time to reflect, reconnect, and look ahead to the future with excitement and optimism.
As we close the chapter on this year’s showcase, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the event possible.
We look forward to seeing where the Class of 2024 will go from here and invite you to stay connected with us for more updates, photos from the event, and access to the screened films.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
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Focus Canning
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Boundless provided snacks throughout the screening. They make healthy, tasty snacks by activating nuts and seeds through ancient fermentation, enhancing nutrition and digestibility while being eco-friendly.