Lights. Camera. Action! Media students sweep the board in short film competition

Media students from across seven New City College campuses showcased some thought-provoking movies when they took centre stage at this year’s Battle of the Colleges FiHub Short Film Competition.

With over 140 entries submitted, this year’s competition was tougher and more inspiring than ever – but NCC scooped all three top prizes!

The presentation and winners announcement – by acclaimed Hollywood cinematographer Fabian Wagner – was live-streamed across the seven campuses involved, and was also joined by another college taking part, Havant & South Downs College. There was suspense and anticipation as the students gathered around the screens to find out which films would steal the spotlight.

And the spotlight belonged entirely to Media students from New City College!

Leading the pack was Hackney Campus student Solomon Macauley, whose short film Identity won him the top prize of £500. His film is a powerful exploration of self-perception, cultural heritage and the complexities of growing up in a world full of expectations.

It captures interviews with community leaders and focuses on the Rise 365 campaign which was launched to change the narrative and empower young black people. The final few minutes of the film blends poetic narration with striking visuals and interesting editing.

The judges praised Solomon for delivering an authentic, mature piece that tackles the themes of race, belonging, and mental health and they were impressed not just with his filmmaking, but with his storytelling too.

Epping Forest Campus student Shayah Laurencin was announced as the runner-up, earning her a prize of £250. She impressed the judging panel with her short movie Black Culture, a thoughtful and vibrant piece based on the resilience and history of the black community and culture.

And Maria-Magdalena Dzhabirova, from Hackney Sixth Form Campus, won the third prize of £100, showing her creative talent with her beautifully shot film Growing With The Seasons, which explores nostalgia, mistakes and loneliness as we grow older.

The judges – a panel of experts from across the film industry – were extremely impressed with the originality, passion, and technical skill of all the entries submitted and offered the three winners an exclusive day on set to gain hands-on experience in professional film production.

Fabian Wagner, whose credits include Game of Thrones, Sherlock and The Crown, among many others, described the standard of the NCC films as ‘outstanding’.

Below is his video announcing the competition winners:

In another first for New City College, the judges announced that they will be visiting the college later this year to deliver a hands-on training day for all Media department staff, sharing the latest cinematic filming techniques straight from the industry.

Andy Greaves, Deputy Group Curriculum Director, Creative & Digital, at New City College, said: “This competition just keeps getting better and we’re extremely grateful to the FiHub team for giving our students this opportunity. The judges were stunned that our students are already making such sophisticated films, which is genuinely exciting for the future of the industry.

“For our young people to have their films judged by Fabian Wagner and also to be offered the chance to have work experience on a real movie set is a huge benefit and will give them the confidence to pursue a career in filmmaking after finishing their course.”

Want to be part of something award-winning?

If you’re passionate about storytelling, filmmaking, or digital media, New City College – graded Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2025 – could be your perfect launchpad. Our Media courses are designed to equip you with everything you need to thrive in the fast-paced world of film and television.

We’re proud to be a ScreenSkills-endorsed college, meaning our courses meet the high standards demanded by the UK screen industries. So, whether you’re dreaming of directing, producing, editing or shooting your next short film, there’s no better place to start than NCC.

Apply now and bring your vision to life!