With over 35 film entries, this year’s Harrodian Film Festival shortlisted 17 for the big screen, showcasing the creativity and ambition of our student filmmakers.
Their work was celebrated in the Theatre on 18 March, where pupils, parents and film enthusiasts gathered for an evening screening. The event was hosted with confidence and style by Upper Sixth students Ioanna and Celeste, who kept proceedings flowing effortlessly with their quick wit and excellent comic timing. Our judges, Damian Keogh, Beth Rylance, Isadora Macleod and Will Kemp, brought a wealth of experience across film, television and theatre as actors, producers (or both!) and were hugely impressed by the standard of this year’s entries.
The Film Festival is a really good opportunity for the creative minds of Harrodian to showcase different perspectives, minds and ways of seeing things that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Sixth Form Winner and Head Girl Emily (U6)
The diversity of genres and storytelling on display was impressive. In the Sixth Form category, Head Girl Emily was awarded first prize for her film Woman, a thoughtful and honest coming-of-age film. Reflecting on her work, Emily explained: ‘I wanted to tell a very honest story about growing up and what it feels like to look ahead and imagine your future self, whilst also not wanting to lose the essence of your childhood self.’ The judges praised the film’s visual style, particularly its use of lighting, editing and transitions, which brought her ideas vividly to life.
To watch the winner of the Sixth Form category, Emily’s film Woman, see below:
Runner-up Gabriel impressed with Best of Both Worlds, a gripping drama inspired by The Godfather, following a young man attempting to leave the mafia, with inevitable complications. He explained that he wanted to ‘show off London and what could be happening behind the scenes of everyday life in places people wouldn’t think to look,’ creating a tense and atmospheric piece set against familiar surroundings. The judges commended his use of locations and strong sense of suspense.
To watch the runner up of the Sixth Form category, Gabriel’s film Best of Both Worlds, see below:
I love the Film Festival because it’s great to finally see what everyone has been working on in the shadows for months
Sixth Form Runner Up Gabriel
A special mention was also given by the judges to Sixth Former Gabriel C for The Oyster, an architecturally and visually striking film exploring guilt and the breakdown of a relationship, inspired by German Expressionism.
In the Senior category, Sasha (15s) took first prize for Footsteps, a suspenseful drama set in a remote house by a loch, in which a girl is haunted by the presence of her father. Featuring her sister, alumna and actress Amber, the film created a strong sense of atmosphere and tension. To watch her winning film, see below:
Senior runner-up Maxence (15s) captivated the audience with Apocalypse, a tightly paced horror film that follows a boy attempting to survive a zombie attack.
To watch Maxence's runner up film in the Senior category, see below:
A special mention went to Orson (15s) for The Courier, a compelling thriller featuring a threatening character who demands money.
Audience engagement was as strong as ever, with a lively phone vote across a range of categories. The Best Comedy award went to It’s a Woman’s World. Period. by Holly, Coco and Amber (Lower Sixth), a humorous and eye-opening documentary in which boys and male teachers tested period cramp simulators to raise awareness.
Other audience awards included Best Student Actor for Celeste (Upper Sixth) for her role in Woman, and Best Adult Actor for parent Mr Brendan Galloway for his memorable appearance as Man Bat in his son Leo’s imaginative film.
Head of Senior School Mr Woodward also presented his award for Best Screenplay to Leo for The Amazing Man Bat and Rea for an original sci-fi script.
As always, the evening had a true festival feel, with a purple carpet, popcorn and sweets adding to the atmosphere. Festival T-shirts, featuring a logo designed by Lower Sixth student Finn, proved popular with filmmakers and guests alike. A huge thank you to this year’s sponsors, Wimbledon Brewery, Olympic Studios and The Script Factory, for their continued support and for providing exciting opportunities for our students.
Reflecting on the event, both Emily and Gabriel spoke about the sense of community and creativity it fosters. As Emily noted, it is ‘a really good opportunity for the creative minds of Harrodian to showcase different perspectives, minds and ways of seeing things that might otherwise go unnoticed,’ while Gabriel highlighted how ‘it’s great to finally see what everyone has been working on in the shadows for months.’
The Harrodian Film Festival continues to be a highlight of the school year, celebrating not only technical skill and creativity, but also the confidence of our students to tell their own stories on screen.
Next week all the shortlisted films will be uploaded to the Harrodian Media and Film Youtube Channel HERE.
To see a gallery of photos taken on the evening by our Lower Sixth photographers Iman and Agatha