RISING STARS

The next generation of talented filmmakers from around the world was recognized and rewarded at the GSA BAFTA Student Film Awards 2020.

Presented in a digital ceremony screened on You Tube, winners accepted their awards virtually from their home countries, with votes cast by BAFTA members and special juries.

The short films which made the final were truly global, being set in Ghana, Ukraine, the United States, Uganda and Cambodia as well as various countries in Europe. They tackled issues as diverse as racial and economic justice, ecosystem collapse, refugees and the Holocaust.

The annual British Academy run event aims to uncover new voices, unique stories and alternative storytelling perspectives which can move the film industry forward.

Ever since his surprise Oscar wins for Parasite, the film world has been wondering what Bong Joon-Ho will do next.

It turns out the South Korean moviemaker has several projects already in development.

One is an English language drama largely set in 2016 London, another is a Korean-language movie set in his homeland. He is working on both at the same time but keeping story details secret.

Bong hopes to follow up both of those with a musical which he vows will be different from anything the genre has ever seen.

Parasite was so different and dynamic that it won four Academy Awards – including best picture – and in addition to the writer-director’s movie workload, he is also producing an upcoming spin-off TV series version of Parasite for American broadcaster HBO.

When he won at the Oscars, Bong famously said, “I will drink until next morning.” But it looks like he was straight back to work after that and so audiences can look forward to more unmissable projects soon from this hugely talented filmmaker.