AFU films win prizes at Bedford Park Festival

Mighty congratulations to AFU members Jack Bradley and Will Mylrea-Hemmings whose 2012 film Nirvana (pictured above) won first prize last night at the Bedford Park Shorts Festival in Chiswick, London. Featuring striking images of Burma, a country that until very recently was closed to westerners, their film explores one of the key themes of Buddhist thought and belief. The Festival brought success for more AFU films, with three making it into the judges’ top five. Not content with scooping the best film award, Jack also secured fourth place with his 2013 film Into the Woods, whilst Alice Taylor won high praise for her debut film Not Quite There which came fifth. The BPF is a relatively new festival but one with an impressive pedigree. Its organisers include the photographer and filmmaker Kelvin Murray, the former Home Office Policy Advisor Cathy Millin and the distinguished television and film producer, Richard Broke. Its prizes are not to be sniffed at either, with this year’s offerings including a Canon EOS 650D camera, training with the Young Film Academy and work experience with Mind’s Eye TV. In the wake of the AFU’s tenth anniversary screening last month, a number of current AFU members have entered films for festivals around the country, so here’s hoping for more good news in the months ahead.