Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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LS1 3HE
Graduate film debut set for Hollywood
Tell My Story, by alumni Rajesh Shinde and Arturo Arroyo, will be premiered as part of the ninth annual HollyShorts Film Festival which runs from 16-22 August.
The duo, who graduated from Leeds Met's Northern Film School in 2012 after undertaking an MA in Filmmaking and Film Direction, made the 14-minute thriller as part of their course assessment.
Rajesh, director of Tell My Story, said that he and producer Arturo were delighted with the recognition that the film has continued to receive. He commented: "Our film was one of the four British productions represented at the 39th Student Oscars and was also nominated for a Royal Television Society Student Award.
"We are beyond thrilled that Tell My Story has been selected for HollyShorts and that it will have such a grand west coast premiere. For our work to make it to a Hollywood film festival feels like a dream!"
The festival showcases the best and brightest short films from around the globe and is devoted to the advancement of filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events.
Rajesh, who is currently working on three documentaries for the BBC, added: "Tell My Story was created under the umbrella of Northern Film School with passion and hard work. We worked as a team and delivered the film in 15 days of pre-production, five days of shooting and 12 days of editing.
"It's a crime thriller that was made to entertain the audience, exploring gender and power play. We also wanted to try our skills as filmmakers creating professional content with artistic values.
"I grew up in India where women face many problems from the day they are born. There are many talented women who don't get what they deserve and instead they get badly treated because they are thought of as the second sex. Their stories never get out. I wanted to tell a story of such a character exploring gender and power play."
So far Tell My Story has been selected and screened at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York; Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, Bristol;The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, Poland; The Princess Ann Theatre for BAFTA and the Groucho Club, London.