Ewan Thomas is an alumni of BA (Hons) Filmmaking at Leeds Beckett. In 2023, he showcased a film he had produced at a festival in New York and was awarded with best film out of over 2000 nominations. Here, he shares his story and talks about how his university experience will help him with his career in the film industry.

Course: BA (Hons) Filmmaking

Tell us a bit about yourself, why you chose to study your course and what interests you the most about the subject area?

My name is Ewan Thomas, and I have just graduated from Northern Film School. I have had a passion for film since I was young, starting to make short films since I was about thirteen and have done so until the present day. I just love the entire creation process, having an idea and seeing how that idea becomes fully realised.

Tell us about the film that you’ve produced and how it came about that it was showcased in New York?

In 2021, I was approached by Dom Brister, who runs a local mental health charity called Don’t Lose Hope. He told me about a true local story which they wished to document and share. Being a topic that means a lot to me, I immediately offered my services and agreed to meet with Dave Manning, the subject of the story. The film follows Dave as he returns to the cliffs of Beachy Head, where ten years prior his struggle with mental health almost saw him take his own life.

Our only goal for the film was simple - “If this film can help just one person, then it is a success”. With this in mind, I wanted to try and expose the film to as many people as I could, and so I submitted to countless international film festivals. It wasn’t until 2023 when I had a call from John Palakas, the organiser of the ‘Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival’, the largest mental health film festival in the whole of the United States. He informed me that the judges had picked my film as the winning film out of over 2000 submissions from all over the world. Following this, the organisation, Community Access, flew me out to New York City and put me up in a hotel in Times Square.

What was the experience like at the New York festival?

The festival took place on 20 May 2023 at the Village East by Angelika cinema, Manhattan, New York. It was a great showcase of fantastic works by filmmakers from all over the globe, whom it was a great pleasure to meet and talk with. After the films were shown, we had a panel discussion before a live audience, where we had a chance to speak further about our films.

How is your course at Leeds Beckett preparing you for working in the film industry?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Northern Film School, having evolved into a competent filmmaker who is ready to work in the industry. Being surrounded by like-minded filmmakers for the past three years is something that I have thoroughly enjoyed and the opportunity to use industry standard equipment has helped to prepare me for future work. I am incredibly proud of myself and the crew who worked on my graduation film, Vole, which is now entering its festival run.

What are your plans after university?

Following graduation from the Northern Film School, I wish to truly involve myself into the industry, which is something I have already made a start on. Recently, in June, I worked as a Second Assistant Camera on a content creation shoot for Lotus in Norway, where we were capturing footage for the launch event of the new Lotus Eletre. Currently, I’m just preparing for future work in the industry.

You can view Ewan's film 'On Top of The World' on his website.