The start of a new academic year at LFA always brings a spark of energy. Still, this September, the excitement hit a whole new level. Our 2025 cohort of aspiring filmmakers arrived at LFA buzzing with ideas, ambition, and the drive to make their mark on the screen. From enrolment to first tours of the facilities, to inspiring talks with award-winning filmmakers, Welcome Week became more than an introduction; it was the opening scene of their filmmaking adventure.
Take a look at what Welcome Week 2025 had in store for LFA’s newly minted BA (Hons) Filmmaking, MA Filmmaking, and MA Screenwriting students here:
Monday
Welcome Week 2025 kicked off at The Gate Picturehouse in Notting Hill, which opened its doors back in 1911 and was one of the first cinemas in the UK to convert to sound. Students were greeted by LFA Joint Principals and Co-Founders, Anna MacDonald and Daisy Gili, who gave their welcome address and let the students know what’s in store for them in the months ahead.
New students also got to meet LFA’s various teams, including Student Support, Admissions, Equipment, Production, and Marketing. Here, they learnt a bit more about the role each team and its staff will play in their LFA experience, and how they can help to support and provide a platform for their film projects.
Monday’s activities concluded with a deep dive into the film projects that current BA Filmmaking students have created in their first year at LFA, with numerous BA7 short films shown on The Gate’s wonderful, ornate screen.
Tuesday and Wednesday
Although Welcome Week kicked off on Monday, the real adventure began on Tuesday and Wednesday as BA and MA students stepped into LFA, exploring the Kubrick and JW studios, where they’ll no doubt spend countless hours bringing their ideas to life.
Students rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on with industry-standard camera equipment. Guided by the Equipment team, they tested out everything from the ARRI ALEXA Mini to the ALEXA Classic, gaining a first taste of the tools that will define their filmmaking practice. Alongside learning the ins and outs of the kit, they also delved deeper into programme expectations, discovering how their studies will equip them to build and refine their own filmmaking voice.
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Thursday
As the week neared its end, students returned to The Gate Picturehouse for a double bill of filmmaker talks with some of the brightest minds in the London film scene.
First up, Joint Principal Anna MacDonald hosted a panel discussion with LFA alumni from a variety of its programmes. Zoja Schlamberger (BA (Hons) Filmmaking, 2024), Arthur Lannigan O’Keefe (MA Filmmaking, 2022), Alice Uzzan (MA Screenwriting, 2021) and Joseph A. Adesunloye (Filmmaking Diploma, 2008) shared their filmmaking journeys with our new students, who had no shortage of questions once the microphones came their way.
This alumni discussion was swiftly followed by a masterclass from BAFTA-winning filmmaker Babak Anvari (Under the Shadow, Hallow Road), who discussed his journey from videographer to director and spoke about what he feels the future of filmmaking will look like. Moderator Fatima Serghini chaired a Q&A towards the end of the session, where once again students were brimming with excitement at the chance to learn from Babak’s impressive career trajectory. Babak was more than gracious with his time, speaking with numerous students in the cinema foyer afterwards.
Friday
The bulk of Welcome Week concluded with additional informational sessions on the logistics of life at LFA. These sessions included comprehensive breakdowns of each student’s programmes, advice on transitioning to higher education, and guidance on friendly and professional on-set etiquette.
Students then moved on to a film quiz run by our very own Student Council quizmasters Eliott Swan and Gabriel Oliver in The Mannequin Factory, where BAs and MAs formed various teams as they vied to win cinema tickets for Vue Fulham Broadway. The triumphant team, “The Eddie Hamiltons,” won by just a single point and will be paying a visit to the Vue in due course.
Following the quiz, LFA students convened at a nearby bar in Fulham for a celebratory drink, marking the end of their first week as studying filmmakers. Chats continued and new friendships were formed over a few games of pool and some rare September sunshine.
Monday
The final Welcome Week festivities came in the form of LFA’s flagship masterclass from legendary, Academy Award-nominated editor Eddie Hamilton (Top Gun: Maverick, Mission: Impossible: Fallout), who once again delivered a fascinating breakdown of his career.
At The Gate Picturehouse once again, Eddie brought LFA graduate and longtime collaborator Rob Avery along with him, who shared his experience of working with Eddie on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025).
From his days as a UCL Film Society member while studying psychology to working on the $400 million budget conclusion to the Mission: Impossible franchise, Eddie’s story is an inspiration to us all and we were thrilled to have him share it with our new students.
The Year Ahead
Thus concluded an action-packed and engaging Welcome Week for our new BA (Hons) Filmmaking, MA Filmmaking, and MA Screenwriting students. It was a real pleasure for LFA staff to see all our newcomers be so enthusiastic, friendly, and relaxed. As they prepare for the year of study ahead, we look forward to assisting them in their filmmaking journey in any way we can and seeing their brilliant work.