Reflecting on a magnificent year for our graduates

As we transition into the new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on a year in which our graduates have made us prouder than ever, being credited across numerous major films and television programmes, winning awards, and making waves both in front of and behind the camera.

Major Film Credits

We had at least 29 graduates credited across fourteen of this year’s London Film Festival films (October 2025).

Amongst them, the opening night film, Wake Up Dead Man, released in cinemas in December, and now on Netflix, co-produced by MetFilm School graduate Leo Hughes who produced all three of the Knives Out films and a bunch of independent feature films between times.

The Choral features current student Oliver Briscombe, who takes one of the lead roles, Lofty, alongside Ralph Fiennes, appearing in almost every scene. Also featuring in a smaller role is Jack Perrons in front of the camera, with credits behind the camera for Giulia Cavina (Assistant Colourist) and Tiago Di Mauro (Assistant Accountant on both The Choral and Hamnet, whilst in the meantime continuing to direct short films).

MetFilm Production’s Lady premiered too, with The Guardian calling it a “barnstorming comedy, outrageous mockumentary… like Saltburn on ‘shrooms.” Seven MetFilm School graduates are credited, making it a real community success story.

Earlier on in the year Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme premiered in Cannes and opened in cinemas over the summer. There were 7 graduates credited in various roles, many of whom also worked on his previous films, Asteroid City and The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar (Best Short Film Oscar 2024). Amongst them, Assistant Editor Anna Gabriela Fernandez Walean, who got her first break on MetFilm Production’s Last Breath and The Reason I Jump, and Visual Effects Producer Marta Baidek whose incredible credits also include Deadpool & Wolverine and Black Widow to name but a few.

Also this year, Under the Open Sky had a limited cinematic release in the UK, directed by graduate, Sonum Sumaria. Read about the film in our blog here – and there’s a nice Guardian review here.

Meanwhile, Minimals in a Titanic World opened at the Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival) in February, starring graduate Aline Amike. You can read about it in our blog here.

Major TV Credits

Moving to the small screen, Frauds debuted on ITV in October, starring Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones, and earning a 5-star review from The Guardian. The first three episodes (of six) were directed by MetFilm School graduate Giulia Gandini. You can read about Giulia’s experience at the school in this ATV Today article, and find out why arriving at MetFilm School was, for Giulia, “like walking into a candy store.”

Also in October, the BBC recently released Series Two of Dreaming Whilst Black, receiving another 5-star Guardian review. The hit series was created by, written by, acted in, and shot by MetFilm School graduates, including its creator and star Adjani Salmon. Series One was based on a web series developed by a group of MA students at MetFilm School on the back of which Adjani won a BAFTA Craft Award for Emerging Talent and the Royal Television Society Breakthrough Award, both in 2022. Series One debuted on the BBC and on Showtime in the US in 2023, before the BBC commissioned Series Two earlier this year.

BAFTAs and Oscars

Two of the fifteen shortlisted films for the 2025 Oscar for Best Feature Documentary were directed by MetFilm School alumni –Ibrahim Nash’at (MA Documentary & Factual) for Hollywoodgate and Agniia Galdanova (BA Practical Filmmaking) for Queendom. You can watch both on the BBC here: Hollywoodgate and Queendom. Queendom is based on Agniia’s graduation project at the School.

Hayder Rothschild-Hoozeer took home a BAFTA for Best Short Film for Rock, Paper, Scissors in February. We couldn’t be prouder of this accolade for Hayder, who after graduating from MetFilm School a decade ago and working in production for close to a decade, went back to school to hone his producing skills last year.

And finally, Sidharth Harikumar’s short film Vasu was named one of seven finalists in the Student Academy Awards’ narrative category.

Stories that Paint a Picture of the MetFilm School Way

And to finish off with, three stories which capture the essence of what it is to be a student at MetFilm School.

To Fly or Float

Olivia Maiden, graduated from one our BA Screen Acting course, having discovered her love of producing. Once graduated, she won one of two 2025 grants from the UK Jewish Film Pears Short Film Fund, for a script she wrote and went on to produce, To Fly or Float. The film premiered in November. Check out this BBC article on the film.

He Kills at Night

After having its World Premiere at Fright Fest in the heart of London’s Leicester Square, the Christmas thriller He Kills at Night is now available on Amazon Prime in the UK and North America. Written and produced by MetFilm School Manchester Course Leader, James Pickering, the production also had 12 MetFilm School Manchester students working across several different departments. The film takes place on Christmas Eve, when a mother desperate to reconnect with her estranged family is abducted by a Serial Killer and forced to help him flee the country. You can watch the trailer here or catch it on Amazon Prime here.

Rocket Fuel

You can watch short film, Rocket Fuel on the BBC here. Produced by Casey Shaw, Course Leader for BA Content Media & Film Production in Leeds and written and directed by Leeds tutor, Jordon Scott Kennedy, the film debuted on BBC Three in May after a celebratory premiere at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds. You can read about the delightful comedy drama here and about the various staff and students involved in the production.

Wishing all our graduates an equally productive 2026!

Your story starts now

Studying at MetFilm School is about being bold, creative, and ready to make your mark. Submitting your UCAS application is the first step in that journey.

Whether you dream of directing, producing, writing, acting, or working behind the scenes in craft and technical roles, MetFilm School is where creative careers begin.

Submit your application by 14 January 2026, and start the new year by bringing your ideas to life on screen.

Have questions? Get in touch

If you’re unsure about the application process, deadlines, or which course is right for you, our admissions team is here to help.

Email: admissions@metfilmschool.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7505 7200