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London film students shine at Greater London Skills Competition during Colleges Week

Creative media students from across the capital showcased their filmmaking talent at the Greater London Skills Competition, hosted by Barnet and Southgate College as part of Colleges Week.

The inter-college competition, which was hosted at STUDIO, the College’s state-of-the-art media skills centre, brought together aspiring filmmakers from colleges across the region to create short films responding to a creative brief inspired by International Women's Day. The event celebrated the creativity, collaboration and technical ability of students preparing for careers in the UK’s growing screen industries.

The winning entry, created by students Abidemi Talabi, Kayleigh-Jo Culling and Bradley Curle from Barking and Dagenham College, used a striking point-of-view style of film to portray a young woman’s experience of walking home and feeling unsafe. The short film also highlighted the issue of period poverty, combining a powerful message with an innovative visual approach.

Student filmmaker Abidemi Talabi said the team intentionally chose a different storytelling style.

“We chose not to use voiceover, so we did not use a standard documentary style of film or narration. Our film was about creating awareness of real experiences of women.
“We worked really well together and with a longer amount of time to work on the film, we would have pushed the message even further.”

Co-filmmaker Kayleigh-Jo Culling said: “It means a lot to me because film is a very big part of my life. Making films gives me a way to express myself creatively.”

Reflecting on the experience, co-filmmaker Bradley Curle added: “There have been points in my life where I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the future, but now I know I want to be a filmmaker.”

The films were judged by two industry professionals: BAFTA-recognised director Bruce Goodison and independent filmmaker Shona McWilliams. During the event, Goodison shared advice with students about building careers in the film and television industry, highlighting the importance of nurturing emerging creative talent.

Presenting the awards, Tracey McIntosh, Deputy Principal of Barnet and Southgate College, said: “I’m immensely proud of all the students who took part today. The level of talent, focus and determination shown throughout the day has been outstanding, and every student should be incredibly proud of what they achieved.”

Neil Coker, CEO of Barnet and Southgate College, said: “The Greater London Skills competition was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the ambition, resilience and technical excellence of our students. Congratulations to Barking and Dagenham College who took home the prize.”

Another standout submission came from Barnet and Southgate College students, whose film “She Is” - produced by Laercio Chibia and Sienna Panter - can be viewed on YouTube.

The competition forms part of a wider programme celebrating the achievements of further education students during Colleges Week, which highlights the role colleges play in developing skills, supporting communities and driving economic growth.