Latest news with #SeanConneryTalentLab
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Sean Connery school to debut 6 films at Edinburgh Film Festival 2025
The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) collaborated over the course of a year on the project for the films, which will be screened for the first time in August. Original James Bond star Sean Connery, originally from Edinburgh, died in October 2020 aged 90. READ MORE: Critically acclaimed chef to open new restaurant in Glasgow His sons, Jason and Stephane, launched the Sean Connery Foundation to 'expand opportunities for talented young people from Scotland to access rewarding careers in the film industry'. They said their father 'made it a priority to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival' and knew 'first-hand what it meant to work hard and struggle for opportunity'. The films will be premiered between August 14 and 20. Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, praised the initiative as having the potential for 'expanding the film-making community here in Scotland'. The films to be premiered are Gowk, directed by Ryan Pollock, Nora Can't Score, directed by Josefa Celestin, Catriona Macleod's Lady Maclean, and Twenty Twenty, from director Alex Salam. Also included are Static, directed by Miranda Stern, and Checkout, from director Mairead Hamilton. Paul Ridd, chief executive and director of the EIFF, said: 'We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. 'Under the expert tutelage of Chris Young and the many industry experts who have given up their time this past year to offer advice and mentorship, these filmmakers have emerged with bold, distinctive work that we are honoured to include in our programme and present to our audiences in August. 'The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent.' READ MORE: Collection of historic letters signed by Mary Queen of Scots sold at auction Jon Wardle, NFTS director, said: 'The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their film-making vision. 'What they've achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. It proves what's possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom. 'The selection of these six films for world premieres at EIFF is a powerful validation of the Talent Lab model. 'We are immensely grateful to the Sean Connery Foundation, BBC Film and all our Talent Lab partners. 'Their unwavering belief and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Scottish storytellers has been nothing short of transformative. This success simply wouldn't have been possible without them.' Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, said: 'I'm hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. 'They've embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. 'The high quality of these short films, reflected in their showcase selection for Edinburgh International Film Festival world premieres, demonstrates perfectly the profound importance of providing a platform for new voices in film, and the potential for expanding the filmmaking community here in Scotland. 'What an incredible beginning for the Talent Lab and for the future of Scottish storytelling on screen.' Stephane and Jason Connery said: 'The premiere of these first short films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab marks a powerful continuation of our father's legacy—championing excellence, ambition, and opportunity in the arts. 'It's especially meaningful to see this work take shape in Edinburgh, the city of his birth and the place he loved most. 'We are deeply grateful to the Talent Lab's outstanding leadership and to our generous partners for supporting this new generation of cinematic talent.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Short films created by Sean Connery Talent Lab to premiere at EIFF
Six short films created as part of the Sean Connery Talent Lab will be premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) collaborated over the course of a year on the project for the films, which will be screened for the first time in August. Original James Bond star Sir Sean Connery, originally from Edinburgh, died in October 2020 aged 90. His sons, Jason and Stephane, launched the Sean Connery Foundation to 'expand opportunities for talented young people from Scotland to access rewarding careers in the film industry'. They said their father 'made it a priority to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival' and knew 'first-hand what it meant to work hard and struggle for opportunity'. The films will be premiered between August 14 and 20. Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, praised the initiative as having the potential for 'expanding the film-making community here in Scotland'. The films to be premiered are Gowk, directed by Ryan Pollock, Nora Can't Score, directed by Josefa Celestin, Catriona Macleod's Lady Maclean, and Twenty Twenty, from director Alex Salam. Also included are Static, directed by Miranda Stern, and Checkout, from director Mairead Hamilton. Paul Ridd, chief executive and director of the EIFF, said: 'We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. 'Under the expert tutelage of Chris Young and the many industry experts who have given up their time this past year to offer advice and mentorship, these filmmakers have emerged with bold, distinctive work that we are honoured to include in our programme and present to our audiences in August. 'The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent.' Jon Wardle, NFTS director, said: 'The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their film-making vision. 'What they've achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. It proves what's possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom. 'The selection of these six films for world premieres at EIFF is a powerful validation of the Talent Lab model. 'We are immensely grateful to the Sean Connery Foundation, BBC Film and all our Talent Lab partners. 'Their unwavering belief and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Scottish storytellers has been nothing short of transformative. This success simply wouldn't have been possible without them.' Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, said: 'I'm hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. 'They've embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. 'The high quality of these short films, reflected in their showcase selection for Edinburgh International Film Festival world premieres, demonstrates perfectly the profound importance of providing a platform for new voices in film, and the potential for expanding the filmmaking community here in Scotland. 'What an incredible beginning for the Talent Lab and for the future of Scottish storytelling on screen.' Stephane and Jason Connery said: 'The premiere of these first short films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab marks a powerful continuation of our father's legacy—championing excellence, ambition, and opportunity in the arts. 'It's especially meaningful to see this work take shape in Edinburgh, the city of his birth and the place he loved most. 'We are deeply grateful to the Talent Lab's outstanding leadership and to our generous partners for supporting this new generation of cinematic talent.'
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Short films created by Sean Connery Talent Lab to premiere at EIFF
Short films created by Sean Connery Talent Lab to premiere at EIFF The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) collaborated over the course of a year on the project for the films, which will be screened for the first time in August. A cinema Six short films created as part of the Sean Connery Talent Lab will be premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) collaborated over the course of a year on the project for the films, which will be screened for the first time in August. Original James Bond star Sir Sean Connery, originally from Edinburgh, died in October 2020 aged 90. His sons, Jason and Stephane, launched the Sean Connery Foundation to "expand opportunities for talented young people from Scotland to access rewarding careers in the film industry". They said their father "made it a priority to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival" and knew "first-hand what it meant to work hard and struggle for opportunity". The films will be premiered between August 14 and 20. Article continues below Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, praised the initiative as having the potential for "expanding the film-making community here in Scotland". The films to be premiered are Gowk, directed by Ryan Pollock, Nora Can't Score, directed by Josefa Celestin, Catriona Macleod's Lady Maclean, and Twenty Twenty, from director Alex Salam. Also included are Static, directed by Miranda Stern, and Checkout, from director Mairead Hamilton. Paul Ridd, chief executive and director of the EIFF, said: "We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. "Under the expert tutelage of Chris Young and the many industry experts who have given up their time this past year to offer advice and mentorship, these filmmakers have emerged with bold, distinctive work that we are honoured to include in our programme and present to our audiences in August. "The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent." Jon Wardle, NFTS director, said: "The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their film-making vision. "What they've achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. It proves what's possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom. "The selection of these six films for world premieres at EIFF is a powerful validation of the Talent Lab model. "We are immensely grateful to the Sean Connery Foundation, BBC Film and all our Talent Lab partners. "Their unwavering belief and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Scottish storytellers has been nothing short of transformative. This success simply wouldn't have been possible without them." Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, said: "I'm hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. "They've embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. "The high quality of these short films, reflected in their showcase selection for Edinburgh International Film Festival world premieres, demonstrates perfectly the profound importance of providing a platform for new voices in film, and the potential for expanding the filmmaking community here in Scotland. "What an incredible beginning for the Talent Lab and for the future of Scottish storytelling on screen." Article continues below Stephane and Jason Connery said: "The premiere of these first short films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab marks a powerful continuation of our father's legacy-championing excellence, ambition, and opportunity in the arts. "It's especially meaningful to see this work take shape in Edinburgh, the city of his birth and the place he loved most. "We are deeply grateful to the Talent Lab's outstanding leadership and to our generous partners for supporting this new generation of cinematic talent."
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Short films created by Sean Connery Talent Lab to premiere at EIFF
Original James Bond star Sir Sean Connery, originally from Edinburgh, died in October 2020 aged 90. We can't wait to present the World Premiere 🍿 of 6 short films at #EIFF25 created as part of the inaugural@NFTSFilmTV x #SeanConnery Talent Lab! NFTS develops some of the world's top talent, with graduates going on to win huge awards, including 15 #Oscars and 165+ #BAFTAs 🏆 — Edinburgh International Film Festival (@edfilmfest) June 18, 2025 His sons, Jason and Stephane, launched the Sean Connery Foundation to 'expand opportunities for talented young people from Scotland to access rewarding careers in the film industry'. They said their father 'made it a priority to attend the Edinburgh Film Festival' and knew 'first-hand what it meant to work hard and struggle for opportunity'. The films will be premiered between August 14 and 20. Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, praised the initiative as having the potential for 'expanding the film-making community here in Scotland'. The films to be premiered are Gowk, directed by Ryan Pollock, Nora Can't Score, directed by Josefa Celestin, Catriona Macleod's Lady Maclean, and Twenty Twenty, from director Alex Salam. Also included are Static, directed by Miranda Stern, and Checkout, from director Mairead Hamilton. Paul Ridd, chief executive and director of the EIFF, said: 'We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. 'Under the expert tutelage of Chris Young and the many industry experts who have given up their time this past year to offer advice and mentorship, these filmmakers have emerged with bold, distinctive work that we are honoured to include in our programme and present to our audiences in August. 'The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent.' Jon Wardle, NFTS director, said: 'The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their film-making vision. Sir Sean died in 2020 (Yui Mok/PA) 'What they've achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. It proves what's possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom. 'The selection of these six films for world premieres at EIFF is a powerful validation of the Talent Lab model. 'We are immensely grateful to the Sean Connery Foundation, BBC Film and all our Talent Lab partners. 'Their unwavering belief and commitment to nurturing the next generation of Scottish storytellers has been nothing short of transformative. This success simply wouldn't have been possible without them.' Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, said: 'I'm hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. 'They've embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. 'The high quality of these short films, reflected in their showcase selection for Edinburgh International Film Festival world premieres, demonstrates perfectly the profound importance of providing a platform for new voices in film, and the potential for expanding the filmmaking community here in Scotland. 'What an incredible beginning for the Talent Lab and for the future of Scottish storytelling on screen.' Stephane and Jason Connery said: 'The premiere of these first short films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab marks a powerful continuation of our father's legacy—championing excellence, ambition, and opportunity in the arts. 'It's especially meaningful to see this work take shape in Edinburgh, the city of his birth and the place he loved most. 'We are deeply grateful to the Talent Lab's outstanding leadership and to our generous partners for supporting this new generation of cinematic talent.'
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
The 6 Scottish films created by Sean Connery talent lab to premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Six Scottish filmmakers backed by a new film school created by the foundation of film star Sir Sean Connery are to have their work premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). The Sean Connery Talent Lab in Leith, run with the National Film and Television School, is a 12-month talent development programme that provides an opportunity for 25 aspiring filmmakers across five disciplines to create their own unique short films. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Sean Connery Now the six films created by the first cohort of the school, which launched last year, are to premiere to the public at EIFF's prestigious showcase event. The films include Gowk, directed by Ryan Pollock, Nora Can't Score, directed by Josefa Celestin, and Lady Maclean, directed by Catriona Macleod. The other selected films are Twenty Twenty, directed by Alex Salam, Static, directed by Miranda Stern, and Checkout, directed by Mairead Hamilton. Each filmmaking team received a £25,000 production budget, with free access to cutting-edge equipment and unrivalled training facilities provided by NFTS Scotland. The tailor-made programme has been designed to further amplify the expertise of each participant in their respective craft, allowing them to refine their skills and push the boundaries of creativity. Paul Ridd, chief executive and festival director of EIFF, praised the 'bold, distinctive work' of the filmmakers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'We are so impressed by the depth and range of films that have emerged from the exciting first year of this brilliant initiative, one which, like our own centrepiece Festival Prize, has been made possible by The Sean Connery Foundation and their generous support for meaningful film industry change. 'The future of cinema is bright in the hands of this exciting new generation of Scottish and Scotland-based talent.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To ensure the programme is as accessible to as many people as possible, each of the 25 places at the school are substantially subsidised, with 70 per cent of fees underwritten by the Sean Connery Foundation. The programme was also designed to be part time, allowing participants to strike a balance between other paid work and professional engagements. Participants will be awarded an NFTS Diploma in Filmmaking, on successful completion of the programme. The Sean Connery Talent Lab opened last year. | Sean Connery Talent Lab NFTS director Jon Wardle said: "The first cohort of the Sean Connery Talent Lab has exceeded all expectations, not only in the calibre of their work, but in the boldness and ambition of their filmmaking vision. What they've achieved in such a short space of time is genuinely remarkable. 'It proves what's possible when emerging talent is given the right support, mentorship and creative freedom.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Chris Young, head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab, said: 'I'm hugely proud of what our very first cohort of students have achieved this year. They've embraced every opportunity the programme has offered and their collaboration has been terrific. Programme participants of the talent lab. | Kevin J Thomson
