News | Student Film Success | London Film Academy

LFA Student Film 'Bucket’s List' Shines on the Festival Circuit

21 October 2024

LFA is proud to celebrate the recent accomplishments of our BA (Hons) Filmmaking course alumni, whose final-year project 'Bucket’s List' has been making an impact on the film festival circuit. 

Film poster for Bucket list showing woman sat on a hospital bed

'Bucket’s List' tells the heartwarming and introspective story of Millie Bucket, a marathon runner who, after a fall and a fractured elbow, finds herself in a doctor’s office.  

What begins as a routine check-up becomes a moment of deep reflection when Millie shares her bucket list with the medical staff. When advised to stay in the hospital, she takes a defiant stand, barricading herself in her room, and in doing so, is forced to confront both her diagnosis and her past. 

Student holding a camera

The production began with a script by Ronnie Bond, which was brought to life by director Vaiva Dirgėlaitė, whose vision for the story resonated with everyone involved. Filippo Bernardini reflects on the collaborative process saying; 

Creating 'Bucket’s List' in our final year at London Film Academy was an incredible experience. LFA provided support from a distance, leaving each of us with major responsibilities on our shoulders – a true industry experience.

Filippo Bernardini

The production brought together a remarkable group of creative talent, including: 

LFA's lessons, masterclasses, and professional insights helped shape the success of the project and the ongoing support meant the team learned how to navigate the challenges of filmmaking, from script development to production, all while maintaining creative control.  

Since completing 'Bucket’s List', the film has been on a steady festival run, earning both accolades and recognition. Highlights include: 

  • Best Fiction Film at the Four River Film Festival 

  • Official Selections at the Cinemagic Young Filmmaker 2024, Lift-Off First-Time Filmmaker Sessions 2024, EmpowerHer Film Festival, and Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions (hosted by Lift-Off Global Network) 

  • Honourable Mention at the Women X Film Festival 

Student on set

With submissions still awaiting responses from several other prestigious festivals, the journey of 'Bucket’s List' is far from over. 

LFA is dedicated to fostering emerging talent and we are incredibly proud of the entire 'Bucket’s List' team for their outstanding achievement.  

This project is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and industry readiness that LFA alumni bring to the table, and we look forward to celebrating many more successes to come.