A team of Film and Television Production students from Bradford College has won the highly esteemed 2Weeks2MakeIt competition, organized by the South Yorkshire Filmmakers Network.
The competition, supported this year by Screen Yorkshire and the Connected Campus scheme, has become a pivotal platform for showcasing emerging talent from the North of England. This year’s victory highlights the exceptional abilities of these budding filmmakers and underscores the significance of such initiatives in nurturing young talent.
The winning team, known as ‘Toothless Films,’ comprises second-year students Mathew Rowan, Joel Anderson, and Haider Mahboob. The trio, who operate their own production company outside of their academic pursuits, were awarded the Screen Yorkshire Connected Campus Award in the student category for their impressive music video titled “Paper Rounds.”
2Weeks2MakeIt, a unique competition that pairs filmmakers with musicians, tasked the teams to create a professional-quality music video within just two weeks. This year saw 21 teams of filmmakers and musicians collaborating, with Toothless Films being paired with Eszter Vida, a music student from the University of Leeds. Their video was shot in various locations around Leeds and Bradford, including the renowned live music venue, The Mill TV in Bradford.
Richard Knight, Career Support Manager at Screen Yorkshire, lauded the achievements of the Bradford College students. “It was fantastic to see Bradford College students – both filmmakers and musicians – fully embrace the 2weeks2makeit project. The winning video was superb, easily on a par with videos made by industry professionals. An amazing achievement, especially given the two-week time limit to devise, shoot, and edit it.”
John Dey, Lecturer in Music at Bradford College, echoed this sentiment, praising the students’ dedication and professionalism.
“The way the Bradford School of Art students approached this project was exemplary and they should be really proud of themselves. They worked collaboratively with a student from Leeds University (Eszter Vida) and demonstrated enthusiasm, problem-solving, and initiative throughout, working independently and to a professional standard.
At the premiere, the video was comparable in standard to those produced by professional filmmakers and shows the level our film students are capable of. Their music video fully deserved to win the Connected Campus award and will help them continue their journey toward becoming established filmmakers.
John Dey, Lecturer in Music at Bradford College
The students themselves expressed immense pride and satisfaction in their accomplishments. Mathew Rowan, one of the three winners, shared his thoughts on their success: “We are all so proud of each other because we all put in a lot of effort into the video, pre and post-production. The fact that we have been able to win the competition has boosted our confidence and hopefully, we can keep pushing on forward with really fun projects like this one.”
Haider Mahboob reflected on the learning experience and the importance of showcasing their work. “This experience has taught me that we should submit more of the work we do to competitions, because we don’t usually do it but we ended up winning this time. I think it’s important to put our work out there, in the right places, in front of the right people.”
Following the completion of their Foundation Degree, the students have their sights set on furthering their education by pursuing a Top-Up Film and TV Production degree at Bradford College. This next step will allow them to build on their current knowledge and experience, further honing their craft and preparing them for a successful career in the industry.
With the ongoing support from initiatives like Screen Yorkshire’s Connected Campus, the future looks bright for aspiring filmmakers and musicians in the region. The success of Bradford College students in this competition is a testament to what can be achieved when passion, creativity, and opportunity come together.
Watch the official music video “Paper Rounds” or discover more about the Bradford School of Art and how you can study with us.
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