Budding filmmaker gets place on prestige youth academy film course

Emily Bray, 21, will be one of five assistant directors and will work in teams to produce, edit, write, direct and act in their own short films with the mentoring and instruction of industry professionals.

Emily, who is currently studying modern history at the University of St Andrew’s in Scotland, said: “I’m really excited about it. I used to do a lot of theatre at school but I wanted to do more behind the scenes and that evolved into film because of course at school you don’t get a lot of exposure for what it’s like to work in film.”

The NYFA is supported by the Directors Guild Trust and the Directors Guild of Great Britain and was created to identify, develop and demonstrate the talents of gifted young filmmakers aged between 16 and 25.

Artistic director Rob Earnshaw said: “We are incredibly proud to have Emily and other young hopefuls on this year’s introductory course. In 2013 the NYFA promises to be bigger and better than ever.”

The films the students produce will then be showcased at the end of the program at an independent cinema with the opportunity for a selected, exceptionally talented few being invited to become members of the NYFA.

These members will then be invited to participate in NYFA productions and events.

Emily added: “Obviously I was really excited to get in but I didn’t know the extent of the competition until I had got in and they told me how many people had applied, so I was quite surprised by that but it was a nice surprise.

“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded young people which I think will add to the course,” she continued. “I think it’ll will give us skills and opportunity to work with a great group of people who hopefully I can work with again in the future.”