17TH DEC 2024
Media Lecturer Thomas George Wins Best Film at Bristol’s 48 Hour Film Festival
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Our media lecturer, Thomas George, has been celebrating some outstanding success after he recently achieved some of the top awards at the Bristol 48 Hour Film Project.
Thomas, alongside media technician Harvey Thompson, took home Best Film, Best Director, and Best Sound Design at the competition—an extraordinary achievement that showcases their creativity and dedication to filmmaking through their company Milestone Productions.
The recognition not only celebrates their hard work but also opens new opportunities for future projects, with Thomas revealing that the film’s success has secured £7,000 of funding from Film Cymru to produce a professional short film documentary.
Speaking about the experience, Thomas is hoping to inspire his students:
“You don't have to have everything figured out, and you can just chip away at little projects and hopefully things can come from it. I think it's just all about having an idea, though, and having a passion, and having the drive. You’ve just got to put the work in, and I'm hoping my students will see that.”
The college’s industry-grade kit, including RED Dragon cameras, Blackmagic Pocket 6Ks, Cine lenses and a Panther dolly crane, played a pivotal role in bringing the film to life.
Thomas shared how impressed other filmmakers were: "All the filmmakers at the festival were amazed that this came from a college department. It's good to show our students they have the potential to create something professional without having to go to university.
"Universities also have all this cinema equipment, you wouldn't necessarily think that of a college course, but here we are. The HE students are able to borrow it anytime they want to use it, they're free to take it and use it.”
Their award-winning horror film, The Woman in the Plastic Skin, explores the dark intersection of technology and identity. Drawing inspiration from body horror legends like David Cronenberg, the film tells the story of a man obsessed with an online image, leading him into a nightmarish transformation.
"It’s about what we consume consuming us—how what we watch online shapes who we are," Thomas explained. The film delivers a powerful message about the internet’s influence on modern life, balanced with strong practical effects and a thought-provoking narrative that questions how we consume content online.
Next Steps: A Documentary with Film Cymru and BFI
The next chapter for Thomas and his team is a documentary funded by Film Cymru and BFI. The project, documenting Thomas’ grandfather’s life as a miner in South Wales, will explore the history of mining communities and their struggles in today’s world.
"We’re working with professionals who have credits from major productions like Netflix’s Sex Education. It’s a big production and quite daunting, but exciting too.”
Thomas is using his new project as a great opportunity for his students to get valuable industry experience. " We’re involving our students in paid roles, giving them real-world experience to help inspire the next wave of filmmakers. I'm trying to push the students to start working independently—to show them, 'Well, look what I've done, and look what you could do now as well."
Students studying HNC and HND Creative Media will be involved, gaining hands-on experience on set. "It’s good for their portfolio, good to say they’ve got paid experience to work on something. Some of our learners have even gone on to work with local production companies like Squashed Robot in Cheltenham," Thomas added.
"I want students to see that you don’t need to wait for opportunities. If there’s nothing out there, you make something happen. That’s what I did."
With his inspiring message, we’re incredibly proud of Thomas’ achievements and his commitment to his students, encouraging them to pursue their own creative ambitions. As Thomas puts it: "Anyone can make a film. It’s about having an idea, having passion, and putting in the work."
