Last Wednesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Alex alumna Ella Nethercott to give a talk to our TY Filmmaking class and the Film Society. Ella, an accomplished filmmaker, has significant experience in the industry and many achievements, including winning Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year award in 2021 with her short film ‘Learning to Dance Like a Bird’, Ella has since been a regular member of the Fresh Film Festival judging panel. 

During her visit, Ella engaged with the students, sharing insights into her filmmaking journey and the challenges she faced along the way. She provided advice on how to break into the world of filmmaking as a student, offering practical tips and inspiration to the aspiring filmmakers. Her passion for the craft and her success at a young age really resonated with the students, encouraging them to pursue their own creative ambitions in film.

The film making students are in the process of writing their short film scripts for entry into the Fresh Film Festival in January and for the Alex Film Festival in May. It was fantastic to get Ella’s advice and expertise on scriptwriting and filmmaking and to watch some of her short films. Ella is studying Psychology in Trinity College and is in the process of making her next short film.