5 minutes with your Brighton College Principal
Getting to know Screen and Film School Brighton Principal, Itziar Leighton.
Itziar Leighton is a highly experienced senior leader with over 25 years’ experience in education. She is dedicated to providing young people with the opportunities and skills to follow their passion in developing and building a successful career.
We caught up with Itziar this week for a quick-fire round of questions, from her favourite film memories, to who would play her in the film of her life. Sit back and enjoy- this is 5 minutes with your Brighton College Principal.
Name: Itziar Leighton
Role: Screen and Film School Brighton College Principal
Describe yourself in three words: Brightonian, friendly, loyal.
Favorite thing about your job: Without a doubt – the people I work with and the students.
I am at my happiest when: I am with family and friends and preferably cooking for them.
First film you watched: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (I’m still scared of the child snatcher!)
Last film you watched: In the cinema – The Irishman.
Favourite film: Spirited Away – Hayao Miyazaki. Beautiful Japanese animated film, it is full of amazing characters and creatures, told in a modern-day fairy tale. I always lose myself when I watch it.
Favourite director: Guillermo del Toro
Favourite film soundtrack: Dream Girls – every track is wonderful, the performances are outstanding, and how it drives the storyline and emotions is brilliant.
Favourite female actor: Every strong woman, who must struggle to attain her dream. But Michaela Coel took my breath away in “I May Destroy You”, what a huge talent. I have challenged Fiona Adams our Industry Engagement Manager to secure a masterclass with her. She’s never let me down before, so I live in hope!
Favourite male actor: Cillian Murphy, mesmerizing performance in Peaky Blinders.
Who would play you in a film of your life: Olivia Colman- I feel she could take anything on, even me!
Favourite line of dialogue: “I’m gone man, solid gone” – Baloo the bear from Jungle book who cannot resist the beat and groove of the music. It has always made me laugh out loud.
Favourite cinema: Duke of York’s Picturehouse – that’s where I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Preferred cinema snack: Something quiet!
Best film memory: Arguing with someone who said I was sitting in their seats, when I had the ticket with the correct seat number, only to realise when the film started, I was in the wrong cinema screening room watching the wrong film. I stayed till the end too embarrassed to move!
Strangest film screening: Back yard cinema showing of Elf. I had to climb through a Dickensian fireplace, and swim through a pool of balls to get to the theatre. It snowed halfway through the film in the theatre itself, which was such a surprise, and very Christmassy.
Favourite piece of film memorabilia: I would have loved to have the Delorean car from Back to the Future, totally impractical, but how cool seeing that parked in front of the film school!
What is your guiltiest film or tv pleasure: Laurel and Hardy – comic geniuses who are still masters of their craft, so relevant today
Favourite tagline: “The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.” What a line, simple but yet still said today in so many contexts.
Want to know more?
This is your chance to speak directly with Itziar Leighton, Principal of Screen and Film School Brighton.
Whether you’re an applicant, a parent or you’re just hearing about Screen and Film School for the first time, we invite you to join this personal online conversation with our college leader to hear how studying a course with us will help set you on a path to a successful career in the UK TV and Film industry.
When: Every Wednesday 1pm
