From school teacher to award-winning filmmaker: Billy Haigh’s journey
By MetFilm School
16 June 2025
For Huddersfield-born cinematographer and lighting technician Billy Haigh, a leap of faith into film school has paid off in remarkable ways. After a career in teaching, he enrolled on the MA Cinematography course at MetFilm School Leeds. He ended up graduating with distinction and creating an award-winning debut film in the process.
We caught up with him to hear more about Kidda, his passion for northern storytelling, and how a year of study turned into a transformative new chapter.
Hi Billy, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background.
I am a Yorkshire-based cinematographer and lighting technician from Huddersfield. I graduated with an MA in Cinematography with a distinction from MetFilm School in Leeds. My debut narrative film Kidda (2024) [logline – What would you do to excuse yourself from not doing your geography homework? For Jude it’s inventing encounters with agents and aliens all to shield himself from the reality he’s struggling to face] was my graduation project at MetFilm School, which I wrote, shot, produced, and edited. The project was based largely on my experience as a school teacher – my career before moving into film.
So, what is Kidda about?
The film centres around secondary school student, Jude, who is seemingly like many teenage boys tarred with the brush of being ‘badly behaved’ finding himself in yet another detention – this time for not completing his geography homework. His teacher attempts to get to the root of Jude’s issues, but Jude concocts a number of tales. For example, about how he came across a “homework eating alien”, and then how he “meets two agents who investigate him”, accusing him of possessing homework containing sensitive information. Little by little, we learn more about Jude and what he is really hiding.
How personal is the story behind the character of Jude?
Jude, is an amalgamation of school children I worked with: bright, funny, but clearly troubled. The film served as a love-letter to the teaching profession and how important it is that students like Jude have a trusted role model in such institutions – especially in a field that is undervalued and overlooked by society. With it being my final graduation project, I put every single morsel of energy and creativity I could muster, and with my amazing team of fellow MetFilm School graduates – including the film’s director Fraser Jordan – created something I was really proud of.
Tell us about your lead actor and his journey.
Jude Hoyland, who plays the lead character, Jude, was an untested and untrained actor having never acted before this role. He has subsequently gone on to win three acting awards at festivals for his remarkable performance. We hope these are the first of many.
The film has seen some success on the festival circuit — can you tell us more?
The film has been accredited with selection in 12 film festivals and has received the Audience Award and a special mention at The Hebden Bridge Film Festival, plus winner of Best Student Film at the White Rose International Film Festival. Additionally, it has been selected on the international film circuit, receiving nominations and awards in various categories at The Milan Independent Awards and The Rome International Movie Awards.
What other opportunities came your way during your time at MetFilm School?
During my time at MetFilm School, I was selected as a delegate for the programme The Network, which was part of the Edinburgh TV Festival. In the same year, I completed Screen Yorkshire’s Screen Diversity Programme, Beyond Brontes.
What have you been working on since graduation?
Post-graduation, I have worked on several TV shows based in Yorkshire, such as the BBC’s drama series Virdee, the Discovery+ show, The Yorkshire Auction House, and the BBC’s comedy short, Rocket Fuel. I am about to embark on my first BFI project in the role of a gaffer for Idle Work Factory’s Nowt.
Simultaneously, I am building my reputation as a freelance filmmaker. I have worked with a range of actors, comedians, musicians, and businesses, capturing exciting and attractive visuals, with storytelling at the heart of everything I create.
You’re now lecturing at MetFilm School — how does that feel?
Yes, I have been fortunate enough to have been offered the chance to lecture at MetFilm School. In this role, I mentor some of our exceptional students in the 24/25 cohort, providing guidance for their final projects. I’m excited to see what they will create this year, and how they’ll push the boundaries of what’s possible in film.
Why did you apply to MetFilm School in the first place?
I decided to apply having hit a brick wall with teaching. I was in much need of a career break. At the age of 32, I saw it as a year out to learn about something I’ve always been interested in. The training I received from MetFilm School was so incredibly special. Ed Swales, my tutor, was an exceptional teacher, committed in every way to ensuring every student in his class succeeded. The highly personalised feedback he would provide encouraged me to feel I could better myself as a filmmaker and as an artist with every single project.
Another massive benefit of studying at MetFilm School was its strong industry links. I met northern filmmaking powerhouses Casey Shaw and Jordon Scott Kennedy, tutors at the Leeds campus, who I have subsequently collaborated with on several occasions – from BFI to BBC productions.
Any advice to others considering a similar leap?
Having started the course without ever holding a camera before, and being the most inexperienced member of my cohort, never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that within a year of undertaking my MA I would be an award-winning filmmaker. I now realise with hard work and passion, and having the right people around you to unlock your potential, anything is possible.
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