Christie has continued its long partnership with the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS), awarding Mdhamiri Nkemi with its ‘Most Promising NFTS Student’ prize.
The projector manufacturer has supported NFTS for 13 years and awarded the prize winning editing graduate with a Christie DHD555-GS (GS-Series) projector at the 2018 NFTS Graduate Showcase at the O2. The award came a few days after the NFTS had itself this year picked up a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Adil Zerouali, director of Cinema Europe for Christie, said: “It’s been a privilege to support outstanding talent in the industry and be associated with the NFTS for more than a decade.
“The NFTS richly deserves its recent BAFTA for its contribution to the industry through its graduates. And it’s clear that Mdhamiri has already shown both a tremendous ability and work ethic that will carry this reputation forward. He fully deserves this year’s Christie Award for Most Promising Student and we’re pleased the award is going to an editor; it’s a vital role yet not always visible. We look forward to watching Mdhamiri flourish in the years to come.”
Mdhamiri, 22, has already worked on an extensive array of short films, features, promotional videos, music videos and television commercials. Many of his award-winning short films have gone on to become official selections at festivals recognised around the globe, including LA Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and BFI London.
Richard Cox, head of editing at NFTS: “The moment Mdhamiri walked through the NFTS gates it was obvious that here was a student full of enthusiasm and energy and potential. He immediately demonstrated with his editing skills that he was a star in the making. He has always been in demand as an editor at the school, and runs his cutting room with humility and good humour. But apart from working on the huge variety of films at the NFTS he has managed to find the time and energy to work on multiple projects outside of the school, with many of them selected for film festivals around the world. In an industry where the editor is invisible, and the best editing is seamless, Mdhamiri has the skill, passion and commitment to the craft of editing to get it noticed and understood.”
This year the Showcase took place at Picturehouse Central in Soho on February 26 and 27, with the awards hosted by Cineworld at the O2 on the February 28. Cindy Symons, Christie partnership manager awarded Mdhamiri his projector. Christie’s sponsorship of the award is part of its long-standing partnership which includes an annual scholarship, enabling that student to complete a full-time, two-year MA. Christie also supported NFTS with digital cinema technology in 2004 to help it move further toward establishing an all-digital format.
As well as the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award at this year’s BAFTAs, the school’s students scooped their fifth consecutive British Short Animation BAFTA, with Poles Apart, directed by Paloma Baeza and produced by Ser En Low.