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UK: Marriott’s Autograph Collection has formed a partnership with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to create an inaugural short film award and scholarship.
The partnership is designed to discover new talent and accelerate the development of the next leading filmmakers.
Marriott International says: “With a diverse portfolio of more than one hundred independent hotels around the world, Autograph Collection Hotels has invested in an ongoing global platform to shine a light on the vision and craft of today’s most-talented in independent film. This is the latest in a series of innovative programmes to support the full lifecycle of independent filmmaking: from screenwriting to screening.”
The award is open to all NFTS students and recent alumni and invites proposals for short films that evoke the “exactly like nothing else” spirit of Autograph Collection Hotels. The winner will be chosen based on the individuality of the proposal and the sense of craftsmanship projected and will receive a grant to make the film, as well as accommodation at an Autograph Collection hotel in the UK during film production. The winner’s work will be showcased at an exclusive screening and discussion in early 2018.
In recognition of the increasing pool of deserving talent, two runners-up will also be chosen, enabling the award to benefit multiple filmmakers at a pivotal stage in their schooling; and as part of the collaboration, Autograph Collection Hotels will also offer additional funding to provide one NFTS student a scholarship to cover half of one year’s course fees. The NFTS is renowned for producing world-class filmmaking talent with many students going on to achieve international acclaim and recognition through prestigious industry awards.
The Autograph Collection Short Film Award will be chaired by Jon Wardle, director at the NFTS and John Licence of Autograph Collection Hotels, who will also oversee the judging panel to determine the winning film.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with the prestigious NFTS on this groundbreaking initiative and first award of-its-kind by a hotel brand,” said Licence. “I strongly believe this scheme will play a key role in helping film students develop their talent; and we look forward to sharing the finished film with our guests, who share our passion for craft, vision and sometimes a cast of characters.”
Wardle added: “This is a wonderful initiative that will help film students grow. Britain has a worldwide reputation for producing emerging filmmakers, and nurturing and promoting our home grown talent is crucial for the future of our film industry.”
