Participants for the Film Master Classes with FNU staff members, Filmmaker Uga Carlini and Training And Development Officer – FilmFiji, Lana Smith at FNU Valelevu on December 13, 2024.
From left – Filmmaker Uga Carlini, Ashitosh Rishay Prasad and Training And Development Officer – FilmFiji, Lana Smith.
The Fiji National University’s (FNU) College of Humanities and Education (CHE) today recognised 16 students for completing a two-week short film course.
The students were presented with certificates of participation to acknowledge their dedication and achievement. The Film Master Classes programme was facilitated by the acclaimed filmmaker Uga Carlini.
Carlini, a celebrated South African-Italian filmmaker, is renowned for her distinctive storytelling and significant contributions to the film industry. She is the founder of Towerkop Creations, a multi-award-winning production company specialising in female-driven narratives and socially impactful stories.
Carlini’s work spans a variety of formats, including documentaries, music videos, and feature films. Her award-winning documentary Alison is one of her most notable achievements. The film recounts the harrowing yet inspiring story of Alison Botha, a South African woman who survived a brutal attack. Alison has received international acclaim for its innovative storytelling and emotional resonance.
Other notable works by Carlini include the music video 17 Shots and the feature film Angeliena, a heartwarming story of resilience and hope.
Among the participants in the short film course was Ashitosh Rishay Prasad, a fifth-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student from FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS).
“I saw the flyer sent out by FNUPR and thought, why not give it a try? Since I did not have much to do during the holidays, it felt like the perfect opportunity,” Ashitosh said.
His interest in filmmaking began during high school, where he actively participated in the Kula Film Awards. “That is where my passion for video editing and filmmaking started. I love watching short series, so this course really aligned with my interests,” he explained.
Ashitosh thanked FNU for organising the programme. “It was an amazing two weeks of intensive learning offered for free! I am thankful to Uga for sharing her expertise with us. Every day was a learning experience. We covered pre-production, scriptwriting, and even managed to shoot three films in a single day. It was a packed but rewarding experience.”
He also hopes for more programmes like this in the future.
Creative Arts Associate Dean TVET CHE, Jerry Wong, commended the students for their dedication and creativity. “The three short films produced during the course showcased not only the talents and skills of the participants but also their ability to apply what they have learned in such a short timeframe. The quality and creativity in their work were truly impressive,” he said.
Wong emphasised the importance of such initiatives in fostering creativity and providing practical learning opportunities for students. He described the course as a prime example of how exposure to industry expertise and hands-on training can unlock potential and inspire future careers in the creative arts.
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