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The British Film Institute and Swiss watchmakers IWC Schaffhausen have revealed the three finalists vying for the second IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award in Association with the BFI.
The nominees are Daniel Kokotajlo writer and director of Apostasy; Rungano Nyoni writer and director of I Am Not A Witch and Michael Pearce, writer and director of Beast.
Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper joins this year’s judging panel to select the winner, who will be announced at Luminous, the BFI’s biennial fundraising gala next month.
At £50,000, the award is the most significant bursary of its kind in the UK film industry. It is designed to support a writer and/or director at the beginning of their career, providing them with financial stability so they may pursue their creative endeavours without distraction.
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Awards such as this bursary are essential for the British film industry. According to the BFI the amount spent in the UK on low-budget films has halved in just four years, and smaller productions are experiencing a sharp decline in numbers and investment.
BFI chief executive Amanda Nevill said, “We have an incredible shortlist of filmmakers with hugely different styles and who demonstrate great strength in their creative voices.
“As a snapshot of UK emerging talent, it is a very vibrant and encouraging picture, but for us as a judging panel, it will be a very difficult decision!”
The winner will be announced on October 3 this year, just ahead of the London Film Festival. Festival director Clare Stewart said, “IWC have created an opportunity for the LFF to play a direct role in bringing all the new and emerging UK-based talent with films in the Festival to the attention of key industry decision-makers through the shortlisting process.”
Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of watchmakers IWC Schaffhausen added that, “We deeply appreciate the creativity and passion that the finalists have invested into their work to enchant and captivate their audiences.”
Watch the video above to meet the three finalists.