Graduate filmmaker from Screen and Film School Brighton wins CINECITY film festival award

Screen and Film School Brighton are incredibly proud to announce that a recent graduate, Issy Songer, has walked away with CINECITY’s ‘New Voices’ award for her graduate film.

Every autumn, Brighton’s CINECITY film festival showcases adventures in world cinema in various cinemas and venues across the city.

Among its diverse range of cinematic delights, the festival runs a special category – ‘New Voices’ – a showcase of shorts from filmmakers under the age of twenty-five which is sponsored by Screen and Film School Brighton.

This year, on CINECITY’s 20th anniversary, the category featured films from a number of students and graduates from Screen and Film School Brighton, whose efforts were shortlisted from over 80 film submissions.

After the sold-out screening at local exhibition gallery, Fabrica, it was young filmmaker and Director Issy Songer’s short film Safe Space which was announced as the standout winner of the category by industry panellists Dr Frank Gray (Co-Director of CINECITY) and actress, producer and writer April Pearson, who is perhaps best known for her role as Michelle from the British TV drama Skins.

The judges made the following comments on Issy’s film.

“Safe Space is a smart and funny dive into the world of young women. Employing throughout the single point-of-view of a mirror in a school’s washroom, the students come and go revealing different aspects of their lives in the privacy of this safe space. The radical time jumps create a kaleidoscopic portrait of observational energy that reflects a production of genuine invention and intelligence.”

An honourable mention was also given to fellow graduate Natasha Maworera, whose film Echoes was an outstanding contribution within the category.  

Songer received her award onstage from College Principal, Itziar Leighton, who said:  

“We are so proud of Issy and her wonderful crew. It was truly inspiring watching all 10 of the finalists’ films. Each one was a remarkable achievement, and we were totally absorbed watching them. It’s clear the quality just gets better and better each year. This is why it is such a marvellous achievement for Issy to have won the overall award. I look forward to next year, and what the creative talent of these young filmmakers brings.”

Reflecting on her recent success, Issy exclaimed: 

“It was an absolute honour to have not only taken part in CINECITY but to have won this award. I couldn’t have done this without my amazing cast and crew who brought my vision to life. I am so touched that my experiences taking refuge in the school bathroom has created a film audiences related to and enjoyed! Also, a huge thank you to the Film School for making this possible and a special thanks to my lecturer Max Conil for helping me become a better screenwriter.”

Safe Space crew members 

Written and directed by Issy Songer
Produced by Sam Warren
DOP Issy Connor
Edited by Fin Moores & Molly Lurie-Meese
Sound by Charlie Parsons
Gaffer Ami Templeman
Camera op Izzy Connor
Camera Assistant Giovanni La Rosa
Production Design by Matilda Kirby and Izzy Songer
Hair and Makeup by Cerys Burns-Toms 

Screen and Film School are incredibly proud of Issy, her film crew and all the fellow graduates whose work we so love to see on the big screen. We wish all of them every success for their future filmmaking careers.  

Header image credit – Tim Barclay 

 

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