Final year UAL Extended Diploma in Film & TV Production student Abbie Ridge has been shortlisted for the Student Impact Film Festival for her coming of age short film ‘Maria’.

The Student World Impact Film Festival is a premier student film festival. The festival attracts submissions from over 5,000 aspiring filmmakers internationally each year and champions student film-makers. We loved finding out more about the project read on to find out more:

Tell us about your SWIFF short listing for your film ‘Maria’

The festival I have been selected for is the ‘Student Impact Film Festival’ also known as ‘SWIFF’. An international film festival based in New Jersey, United States. However it is usually held in New York. I came across the festival whilst looking for film festivals to submit my final year 1 project ‘Maria’ to on the website ‘Film Freeway’ ; a website that is open to all!

Tell us about your film!

My film itself is a project I worked on during March-May 2022 with two actors ( my friend and girlfriend) and myself. The short film is fully produced, edited and directed by myself as well. With an extremely small team I am very proud of what we have accomplished! The synopsis is simple, it’s about a young teen who struggles with the loss of a friend. It shows the 3 stages of loss inspired by the 5 stages of grief. The film is executed in a way where it can be interpreted differently by each viewer, there’s no script purposely so it is easily relatable. You can make your own story line with it.

There was a couple of challenges that came a long in the filming process. One being, as we are all college students with exams going on, it was hard to work around each others schedules which led to full day shoots, morning to night. None of us could drive either which led to us having to walk hours to get to certain shoot locations or getting trains. However, this was all apart of the process and I loved it all. The editing process is always my favourite part and with this project it carried a lot of experimentation, which is what I love! I learnt a lot of new things from this project.

Whats special about The Northern School of Art?

The Northern School of Art has brought about opportunities I could never of imagined to achieve within my first year. With help from my teachers, Katt Mudd, John Stead and Andrew Dunning I have managed to learn so many new techniques, editing tools and camera knowledge! The college campus gives me access to so many amazing learning chances. I am extremely proud to attend the college!

What other projects are you working on?

I am now going into my 2nd year in the Film & Tv production course ready to learn even more! My next project is folklore themed I believe which I am incredibly excited to bring to life. I am also currently working/ writing my own script in my own time for an LGBT+ short film to help people feel seen and get the representation we deserve as a community.

Do you have any plans for after college?

My plans after college is to attend University. With my top choices being Edinburgh Napier and the University of Edinburgh. Both top university’s in the uk for BA Hons Film production! Not only that but with Edinburgh being a hot spot for film production it would be ideal for me. I am very excited to see what my future holds and what other amazing opportunities come my way!

Any advice for future students?

My advice for future students is to give it what you have. Try new things, learn new things and just put yourself out of your comfort zone as much as possible because you never know what amazing opportunities are around the corner waiting for you! Do what you’re passionate about because you only have one shot at life, do what you enjoy!

You can keep up with abbies work on her instagram @abbieridgefilm and editing tiktok: @eclipse.ae