As the clock ticks towards the deadline for this year’s Student Film Festival, we asked media teachers from a selection of ISV Member Schools for their advice to student filmmakers.
Dive headfirst into the world of film, says David De Meena at Firbank Grammar School.
‘Be passionate about film … not only making it, but watching it, critiquing it, engaging with it and talking about it with others.’
This passion will fuel your creativity and shape your unique storytelling style.
Don’t let fear hold you back. Claudia Ohlert from Huntingtower School advises students ‘to not be afraid to enter your first [film] and just do it.’
Pongky Nataatmaja from Al Taqwa College adds: ‘Don’t let not having equipment stop you from making content.’ Embrace the challenge and let your imagination run wild.
Filmmaking is a powerful way to share your voice. Whether it’s acting, storytelling, or expressing personal experiences, your film can inspire, entertain and connect with audiences.
Obayda Kannouj from Al Taqwa College says students enjoyed their ‘stories being told and shared. They were really passionate about getting their stories out there because they wanted others to know what they were going through.’
Filmmaking is about more than just the final product – it’s a journey filled with learning, camaraderie and unforgettable memories. As Connick Cheung from Huntingtower School says, it’s about ‘having fun and making lifelong memories, creating something that you’re really proud of.’
The festival offers a unique platform for students’ work. David De Meena says opportunities like the Student Film Festival ‘give students a focus that is often lacking in a film classroom, in terms of where does the work go when you make it.’
As Mel Beal from Huntingtower School says, these opportunities can help students see that ‘this is a future … [media is] something that they can actually make a future out of.’
So don’t let your film gather dust – let them shine and reach a wider audience.
Entries are open until Friday 1 September.
