Film school proud as it hopes for third Bafta win

A film school said it was "immensely proud" after a student secured another Bafta nomination, putting it within reach of three consecutive wins.

Graduate Huiju Park described it as "beyond surreal" to receive a nomination for Welcome Home Freckles, a documentary created during her course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Beaconsfield.

Her film is one of five nominated in the British Short Film category for Sunday's ceremony, a prize NFTS students have taken home for the past two years.

School director Jon Wardle noted three consecutive wins would be "almost unheard of" but consistent recognition of student work by the academy was "incredibly meaningful".

In 2024, graduate film Jellyfish and Lobster won the Bafta for British Short Film.

Last year, students took home the same trophy for Rock, Paper, Scissors - a film about the war in Ukraine.

Wardle said: "What makes this nomination especially meaningful is that it's for a documentary. Our last two wins were fiction films and historically the BAFTA Short Film category has tended to favour fiction.

"So to see a documentary recognised in this way is wonderful - it speaks to the power of truthful storytelling and to the richness and diversity of voices emerging from the NFTS.

"I'm immensely proud of the students who poured their hearts into the film, and of the extraordinary tutors and staff who supported them."

This year's nomination follows Park as she returns home to Daegu, South Korea to confront her family over abuse from her childhood.

The filmmaker said she was excited to rub shoulders with "legendary directors" at the awards ceremony, hosted by Alan Cumming, at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.

She said: "I didn't expect that we could achieve this far with our tiny film. Personally, this opportunity made me feel like I belong here in this industry and in this gigantic film world.

"I could never have done this alone, the NFTS gave me a safe space to experiment with my ideas and to be more brave.

"Most importantly, I have been given so much love since day one and have met my lifelong partners and best friends from being at the school."

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