50th anniversary of the National Film and Television School celebrated with season at BFI Southbank
NFTS at 50 will feature Q&As with some of the school’s best-known alumni, including Roger Deakins (appearing alongside wife and colleague James Deakins), Terence Davies, Sarah Gavron, Nick Broomfield, Shola Amoo, Clio Barnard, Kim Longinotto and more.
For half a century the National Film and Television School (NFTS) has trained some of the world’s best filmmakers. To celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary, BFI Southbank will be showcasing work from some of their best-known alumni with a celebratory NFTS at 50 season running from 1 September to 5 October, featuring seminal films by alumnus followed by Q&As with the directors.
The centrepiece of the season on 12 September will be An Evening with Roger and James Deakins, in which audiences will be able to hear from the award-winning husband and wife Roger and James Deakins, who have worked together on a multitude of hugely successful films in recent years, Roger as cinematographer and James as digital workflow and visual effects consultant. Their unique partnership has seen them work with acclaimed filmmakers such as the Coen brothers, Denis Villeneuve and Sam Mendes, and the event will see them offer unique insights into their careers and collaborations.
Other filmmakers and their work screening in the season will include Kurt & Courtney with director Nick Broomfield, The Souvenir with director Joanna Hogg, The Last Tree with director Shola Amoo, Absolute Beginners with director Julien Temple and cinematographer Oliver Stapleton, Il postino with director Michael Radford, Theatre Girls with director Kim Longinotto and many more.
The season also offers a rare chance for audiences to see work from early in the careers of these distinctive and successful voices from the industry, with many of the programmes including screenings of shorts made by the alumnus during their time at the school, which have not been screened since the filmmakers graduated.
“The NFTS is a world-class organisation that has produced many great filmmakers and practitioners across film and TV,” says Ben Roberts, BFI CEO. “Earlier this year we announced a closer partnership between the BFI and the NFTS that will see us double down on our efforts to encourage further diversity and inclusion within the industry. As the NFTS celebrates its golden anniversary, we’re delighted to host this celebration at BFI Southbank with a number of their alumni on stage presenting and talking about their work.”
“As we celebrate this landmark 50th year of the NFTS, a specially curated season at the BFI is the icing on the cake,” says Jon Wardle, NFTS Director. “I can’t think of a better way to showcase the impact the school and its alumni have made on the cultural landscape since first opening in September 1971. We are honoured the BFI are hosting this month long celebration to recognise the stellar achievements of NFTS filmmakers over the last five decades.”
Health and safety measures continue at BFI Southbank, with up-to-date guidance available on the website.
Tickets for the season will go on sale to BFI Patrons and Champions on 2 August, BFI Members on 3 August and to the general public on 5 August.
