Local film student wins national award

A filmmaker from Kent who went to the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at Farnham has won a national film award.

 

Recent BA (Hons) Film Production graduate, Roland Bodenham from West Malling, plus Daniel Croucher, Liam Shove, Ian Jackson and Wayne James, picked up the Audience Prize for their documentary In The Flock at the Eat Our Shorts film festival in London.

 

The annual showcase of student work at the British Film Institute is organised by the National Association for Higher Education in the Moving Image (NAHEMI).

 

Co-director, Roland Bodenham, said: “This is my first ever award so it feels really special. The timing is brilliant too as we have just graduated and are about to embark on our professional careers.”

 

The documentary follows the highs and lows of pigeon racing through the eyes of life-long Manchester-based competitor, Les Green.

 

Co-director, Liam Shove, said: “Les is a real character and brings the past-time of pigeon racing to life.

 

“He has ultimately dedicated his life to the sport and is proof that pigeon racing can go beyond a hobby and into an obsession.”

 

The documentary was crafted from more than 20 hours of footage that was filmed over a year.  

 

BA (Hons) Film Production course leader, Claire Barwell, said: “I think the film did so well because it tells the story with humour and dramatic tension coupled with a strong human element through Les.

 

“The graduates should be really proud of themselves to win the award ahead of stiff competition from postgraduate heavyweights such as the National Film and Television School and the London Film School.”

 

The group won £250 of Kodak film stock plus a voucher for a place on a short course at the London Film School.

 

Roland said: “Having an award next to one of your films sets it aside from others and shows that you have the competence, and are driven enough, to finish a film and get it seen by the public.”

 

Liam said: “The award has given us, and our documentary, credibility early on in our careers.

 

“We have been given a big confidence boost as filmmakers and the 16mm film we won will certainly given us the initiative to start working on our next project as soon as possible.” 

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