Sundance opportunity for Uxbridge College filmmakers

Young filmmakers on Level 3 Creative Media Production courses at Uxbridge College got a unique insight into the documentary film industry through the prestigious Sundance Film Forward Initiative.

American director Kristina Goolsby showed her movie TIG, co-directed with Ashley York, and talked students through the process of making the film and producing the final cut. She and Bethany Clarke, who is a manager of the Film Forward Initiative, talked about their experiences in the industry and offered tips on creating and maximising opportunities.

After the screening of TIG, Kristina and Bethany took questions from the audience of students, and later ran an editing workshop with Alex Campbell; who is a Sundance Ignite Fellow, currently working as a content manager for the Film Forward Initiative.

Uxbridge College and the students were also featured in a short film produced by the Film Forward team about their work with young people in the UK.

Dave Lashbrook, Media Lecturer, said: “The Sundance Film Forward Initiative visit was a unique opportunity for students to gain an insight into the documentary film industry from an international director. The screening of the film TIG, along with the question and answer session, went really well. Kristina gave some great responses to the students’ questions, and the session gave them a first-hand insight into how the industry operates on a ground level.

“For the work-in-progress workshops, Kristina and members of the Film Forward team were able to observe the students’ short fiction films – which are a part of their final major projects – and give feedback on how to improve the work. The day was a great success and the feedback was extremely positive in relation to how engaged and passionate the students at Uxbridge College are about their chosen subject. The Film Forward team were also impressed with the high standard of work being produced.”

Sundance Film Forward is an US-based initiative which uses film and conversations with filmmakers to excite and introduce a new generation to the power of story, while fostering a global community, is a part of the Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee on the Arts, and Uxbridge College hopes to take part again next year.

• To see the Film Forward’s short film featuring Uxbridge College go to http://www2.sundance.org/video/film-forward-and-tig-in-london/