MetFilm School Summer 2025 festival round-up: a season of screens, celebrations and student success
By katysmith
12 December 2025
Summer 2025 marked a landmark season for MetFilm School across London, Manchester, Leeds and beyond. From award wins and curated showcases to national partnerships and industry-shaping opportunities, the past few months highlight why MetFilm School continues to be a creative force across the UK festival landscape.
BRADIFF 2025: a spotlight on emerging talent
The season opened at Bradford International Film Festival, where MetFilm School Manchester sponsored the Best Student Film award. The prize opened the awards ceremony on Sunday, 2 November, with host Irene thanking MetFilm School publicly and acknowledging its expanding creative hubs in Manchester and Leeds.
Festival organisers also recognised the strong presence of MetFilm School students whose submissions made a noticeable impact on this year’s programme. The Best Student Film award was presented by Joe Morris (Creative Futures, MetFilm School Manchester), reinforcing the school’s commitment to developing and championing new voices.
Bolton Film Festival: a MetFilm School Manchester showcase
October brought an exciting collaboration with Bolton Film Festival, where MetFilm School Manchester curated a Guest Showcase of standout Level 6 Graduation Films from the 24/25 academic year:
- Once Upon A Time in the West
- Baby Teef
- The French Tip Off
- Bloody Hell Nana
- Safe Space
Later that evening, Miles Gourley presented their Level 5 BA Filmmaking documentary Inside The Ropes within the New Arrivals 3 strand, marking an impressive double presence for the school.
Worcester Film Festival: a new autumn partnership
Worcester Film Festival in September provided another opportunity for MetFilm School to connect with regional industry partners. The event was highly film-focused and offered valuable access for students, graduates and staff eager to learn, network and showcase their work.
Twenty students attended using full festival passes, with more joining workshops and screenings independently. Two student bloggers documented the weekend onsite, and Last December, a MetFilm School graduate film, was screened as part of the programme.
Principal Lecturer & Careers Manager Lucy Carey attended throughout the festival, participating in:
- Student Short Film Showcase
- Last December Q&A Panel
- Networking Launches
- Pitching Session
Manchester Film Festival: awards, panels & industry impact
This year’s Manchester Film Festival (MANIFF) proved to be one of the most successful yet for MetFilm School Manchester, with:
- 4 student films selected
- 4 lecturer films selected
Head of School Milda Steel won Best Documentary, while Level 6 student Morgan Rhianna received the Rising Star Award, spotlighting MetFilm School’s ability to nurture talent from student to professional.
The MA cohort curated the documentary strand, a rare opportunity to shape an industry-facing programme. The continuing partnership also saw MetFilm School host Welcome Drinks for over 30 industry guests, alongside a dynamic MANIFF Takeover Day featuring:
- Networking Brunch
- Documentary Filmmaker Panel
- Beyond Shorts Industry Discussion on career pathways and long-form work
BFI London Film Festival: alumni shining on the international stage
As the 69th BFI London Film Festival took over the capital, MetFilm School saw one of its strongest showings yet. An impressive 29 graduates were credited across 14 films in this year’s programme – a testament to the depth, talent and industry reach of the School’s creative community.
Highlights included BA Practical Filmmaking graduate Leo Hughes, who co-produced the Festival’s Opening Night Film Wake Up Dead Man, the newest chapter in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series starring Daniel Craig and Glenn Close. The Choral also showcased the work of multiple alumni behind the camera, while in front of it, graduate Jack Perrons and current BA Acting for Screen student Oliver Briscombe took on a key role, with Briscombe starring opposite Ralph Fiennes. It was a milestone year that underscored MetFilm School’s growing presence on both sides of the lens at one of the world’s most influential film festivals.
Read more about our time at the BFI London Film Festival here
BFI Selects: a new opportunity for graduates
In a major development for emerging alumni, MetFilm School launched the BFI Selects Process, through which 12 graduate films (two per campus) were submitted to a BFI programmer. Each film received written feedback, with:
- 1 winner selected per school
- 1 overall winner awarded bespoke mentoring (2–3 sessions) supported by BFI Network, a Network-supported filmmaker and a regional talent executive.
This initiative marked an exciting expansion of MetFilm School’s national-level industry partnerships.
A summer that set the stage for what came next
From festival wins to new partnerships and national recognition, Summer 2025 reaffirmed MetFilm School’s place at the centre of the UK filmmaking community. Whether collecting awards on stage or curating festival programmes behind the scenes, MetFilm School students, graduates and staff continued to make their mark.
On the success of our 2025 festival season, Director of MetFilm School, Jonny Persey said:
We talk a lot about the acclaim our graduates receive, and this year—with graduates winning a BAFTA, being shortlisted for two Oscars, and achieving Student Academy Award finalist status, just for starters—is no exception. Most of the time, however, we begin with smaller festivals, and this year’s festival season has shown just how far our students and graduates can go when they’re given the right opportunities and support. From regional showcases to the London Film Festival, their work isn’t just being seen—it’s being celebrated. That momentum matters. It gives our current students a clear sense of what’s possible and reminds the industry that MetFilm School talent is shaping the future of UK filmmaking.
Ready to make festival-worthy films?
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For courses starting in September 2026, the UCAS deadline is Wednesday 14 January 2026. Don’t miss out! Make sure your BA application is submitted by this date to ensure it is considered.
