Abingdon Film Unit
Encyclopedia
The Abingdon Film Unit is a small organisation in England that enables secondary school pupils between the ages of 13 and 18 to make their own short documentary or animated films under the guidance of a team of industry professionals led by the renowned documentary maker Michael Grigsby
. Based at Abingdon School
the AFU was formed in 2003 by Grigsby and a teacher at the school, Jeremy Taylor. The AFU currently has several tutors; Jonas Mortensen (cinematography), Mikkel Eriksen (sound design), Arvid Eriksson (editing), Nicolaj Larsen, and animators Joanna Harrison, Geoff Dunbar and Rebekah Tolley. The Unit has so far produced ninety-seven short films. Many of the Unit's work carry resemblances to Grigsby's own work, and he encourages the pupils engage in the art of poetic filmmaking.
called 'Gravel and Stones' has been nominated at several film festivals including the London International Documentary Festival and another short documentary called 'The Underground Village' won third place at the National Young Filmmakers' Award at the Leeds Young People's Film Festival. The AFU is gaining a large and impressive name for itself, having had large articles published in renowned film magazine 'Vertigo' as well as several local television and newspaper appearances.
called 'Gravel and Stones' which had its own premiere at the BFI Southbank
. It was also screened at Raindance film festival and The London International Documentary Festival (LIDF). The film focuses on the devastating effects of the land mines on the people of Cambodia, and was made with support of LMDS (http://www.lmdsupport.org.uk).
More recently the AFU has produced a half hour documentary entitled 'One Foot On The Ground' which again premiered at the BFI Southbank
before having screenings at Raindance film festival and We The People's film festival. The film follows a young promising basketball player in Moldova called Andreii who has to decide as to whether to stay and support his family in Moldova or leave and pursue his passion elsewhere.
Michael Grigsby
Michael Grigsby is an English documentary filmmaker.With a filmography spanning six decades and nearly 30 films, Grigsby occupies a unique position in British documentary filmmaking, having witnessed and commented on many of the dramatic changes in British society from the late 1950s through to...
. Based at Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
the AFU was formed in 2003 by Grigsby and a teacher at the school, Jeremy Taylor. The AFU currently has several tutors; Jonas Mortensen (cinematography), Mikkel Eriksen (sound design), Arvid Eriksson (editing), Nicolaj Larsen, and animators Joanna Harrison, Geoff Dunbar and Rebekah Tolley. The Unit has so far produced ninety-seven short films. Many of the Unit's work carry resemblances to Grigsby's own work, and he encourages the pupils engage in the art of poetic filmmaking.
Acclaim
Seven of the Unit's films have been screened at the National Film Theatre (NFT) in London and two at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema. AFU films have also won first prize at the Oxdox International Film Festival (2005) and the New Shoots Festival (2006 & 2007). A large-scale film about CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
called 'Gravel and Stones' has been nominated at several film festivals including the London International Documentary Festival and another short documentary called 'The Underground Village' won third place at the National Young Filmmakers' Award at the Leeds Young People's Film Festival. The AFU is gaining a large and impressive name for itself, having had large articles published in renowned film magazine 'Vertigo' as well as several local television and newspaper appearances.
Larger Projects
The AFU first branched out into larger-scale documentaries with a half-hour film about CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
called 'Gravel and Stones' which had its own premiere at the BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank is the leading repertory cinema in the UK specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films and is operated by the British Film Institute.-History:...
. It was also screened at Raindance film festival and The London International Documentary Festival (LIDF). The film focuses on the devastating effects of the land mines on the people of Cambodia, and was made with support of LMDS (http://www.lmdsupport.org.uk).
More recently the AFU has produced a half hour documentary entitled 'One Foot On The Ground' which again premiered at the BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank is the leading repertory cinema in the UK specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films and is operated by the British Film Institute.-History:...
before having screenings at Raindance film festival and We The People's film festival. The film follows a young promising basketball player in Moldova called Andreii who has to decide as to whether to stay and support his family in Moldova or leave and pursue his passion elsewhere.