Students pass Screen-test

Filmmakers of the future descended upon Bristol University to showcase their talents ? and a host of Edge Hill students took centre-stage.

Two short movies written and directed by Film and Television undergraduates were aired at 'Screen-test? ? the first ever celebration of the directorial and script-writing work of UK Higher Education students.

Around 50 films were screened over the course of two days with twice Oscar-nominated actress Emily Watson on hand to present an award for the 'best student film?.

'Capitalism of Culture? was the work of Kathryn Tillet, John Waddington, Sally Roberts and Leah Thomas, and questioned the benefits of Liverpool being the 2008 European City of Culture. Tim Cooke, Tom Whyman, Chris Noble, Paul Rimmer and Graeme Beresford produced 'A Tale of a Running Schizophrenic??, which featured a clone?s escape from a clone factory.

Kathryn said: "It was both exciting and nerve-wracking to have our work screened at the festival, what with so many respected figures and film enthusiasts in attendance.

"Occasions like this, along with the skills gained via the degree course, have certainly whet our appetite for writing and directing more films in the future."

Mark Fremaux, a media lecturer at Edge Hill, said: "Alongside Edge Hill students? films being screened, it was also pleasing to note that more of our Film and Television undergraduates attended the festival than those from any other university, Bristol students aside of course.

"This was a wonderful achievement and is something we can hopefully build on next year."

The appearance at Screen-test isn?t the only Edge Hill film success story ? in 2004 Karl Walsh won the national Promax Student Award for Promotion and Marketing and two films were screened in Liverpool at FACT as part of the Microwave Film Festival of Moving Image.

Picture: (l-r) Kathryn Tillet, Sally Roberts and Leah Thomas get behind the camera.