MetFilm School students collaborate on new short film NOWT funded by BFI

MetFilm School is proud to celebrate the completion of principal photography on NOWT, a new short film from Idle Work Factory, which wrapped filming in May with funding support from the British Film Institute (BFI) and Film Hub North.

Idle Work Factory – founded by Writer/Director Jordon Scott Kennedy and Producer Casey Shaw, both core members of the MetFilm School Leeds faculty – continues its mission to create bold, authentic stories rooted in the North.

Written by Emma Doherty (Waterloo Road) and directed by Milda Baginskaite, Head of School at MetFilm School Manchester, NOWT is a gritty and emotionally raw portrait of a teenage girl navigating identity, ambition, and survival. Set on an estate in Huddersfield, the film follows troubled teen Bailey McKenna, who resists returning to school after an exclusion.

The film stars Amelia Flanagan (Emmerdale) as Bailey, alongside Liam Scholes (Waterloo Road) as Jason, and Olivia Sweeney (The Responder) as Leanne, Bailey’s exhausted but well-meaning mother.

In addition, Maddie Brown, a BA Acting for Screen student at MetFilm School, stars as Jayda, Bailey’s peer. The project offered a unique hands-on opportunity for students across MetFilm School Leeds and Manchester, with acting and production trainees contributing across multiple departments – including lighting, AD, camera, and production – and gaining invaluable professional experience on a funded short film set.

MetFilm School students and staff on set included:

• MetFilm School Leeds: Josh Crulley & Patrick Bostyn (Lighting Assistants), Elden Tennison (Art Department Assistant), Sofia Labeij Lord (Production Assistant), and Maddie Brown (Actor, Jayda).

• MetFilm School Manchester: Billie Sharpling (Camera Trainee), Caitlin Howes (AD Trainee), and Emily Bevan (Director’s Assistant).

• Staff Contributions: Matthew Boone (Assistant Director) and Diva Rodriguez (Casting Director).

Currently in post-production, NOWT is set to make its festival debut in the coming months. This powerful story, shaped by Northern voices and crafted by a new generation of filmmakers, demonstrates the strength of regional storytelling and the impact of creative education.

BFI NETWORK and Film Hub North support emerging filmmakers across the UK, helping them tell stories that reflect the full breadth of British society.

This project also reinforces MetFilm School’s commitment to providing students with practical, industry-led experiences that prepare them for careers in film and television.

🎬 See the next generation of filmmakers in action!

Discover how MetFilm School students bring stories like NOWT to life – from acting and directing to lighting, camera, and production. Join us at our next Open Days to meet tutors, explore our BA courses, and find out how you could gain hands-on experience on professional film sets.

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Courses to explore: BA Filmmaking | BA Acting for Screen | BA Practical Filmmaking