Alumni News: The Headlines in July
Today, we’re spreading the joy with some fantastic news from our #AestheticaAlumni! This is your rundown of some of their amazing achievements, from Debbie Howards’ recent film festival win to Sarah Grant’s upcoming feature debut.
#AestheticaAlumni Part of
Saatchi New Creator’s Showcase
The New Creator’s Showcase is a platform for global talent, screening films from up-and-coming directors at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This year’s lineup included BAFTA and BIFA-winning films that played with us last year: Yasmin Afifi’s Jellyfish & Lobster, Tom Stuart’s Good Boy and Abdou Cissé’s Festival of Slaps.
Riz Ahmed Talks about Recent
Projects in an Interview with Vogue Man
Riz Ahmed is the writer of the the Oscar-winning short The Long Goodbye, which screened with us in 2021. He recently spoke with Maya Menon in an interview for the latest issue of Vogue Man Singapore. They discussed everything from his latest acting roles in Hamlet and The Phoenician Scheme to his exciting upcoming Amazon Prime series.
Safe Takes Home Another
Film Festival Win at Short+Sweet
Massive congratulations to Debbie Howard, the director of Safe, for taking home the ‘Made in Yorkshire’ award at Short+Sweet Film Festival! Howard won ‘Best Director’ at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival in 2023 for this topical project that centres on the ways in which men threaten women’s senses through intimidation and harassment.
Channel 4 Screenwriters:
Warda Mohamed & Ben S Hyland
Channel 4 announced the 12 talented writers on their coveted drama screenwriting course, 4Screenwriting. We are thrilled to see that Warda Mohamed (who screened Muna at #ASFF2023) is part of the dozen selected! Ben S Hyland (Quiet Carriage and Bleep) is listed in the additional 15 writers recognised by the scheme. Congratulations!
Sarah Grant is Working
On her Debut Feature Film
We’re excited to see that Sarah Grant (who screened with us in 2022 with her short Candy) is making her first feature! Fight Me is about a wallflower who punches the office misogynist after reaching her last straw. The project is in the funding stage of development so head over the Kickstarter to learn more and help bring the movie to life.
Watch more incredible family friendly movies at Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024, which runs from Wednesday 6 November until Sunday 10 November. Tickets available from mid June 2024.
Learn more: asff.co.uk
Stills:
- Festival of Slaps dir. Abdou Cissé
- Good Boy, dir. Tom Stuart
- Jellyfish & Lobster dir. Yasmin Afifi
- The Long Goodbye, dir. Riz Ahmed
- Safe, dir. Debbie Howard
- Muna, dir. Warda Mohamed
- Quiet Carriage, dir. Ben S Hyland
- Fight Me, dir. Sarah Grant
