2014 Awardee: Ian Forbes

I feel tremendously fortunate to be supported with a Dewar Arts Award. Receiving the award has allowed me fulfil my long-time dream, to attend the MA in Cinematography at the National Film and Television School.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.ianforbes.co.uk/
EMAIL:i.w.l.forbes@gmail.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/ian_forbes

Biography

Born and brought up in Scotland by an artistic family, Ian is a London-based cinematographer with a passion for image, story and collaboration.  Having studied for his BA Honours at art school in his hometown, Dundee, Ian graduated in 2010 with a 1st class honours.  Over the next two years he built up a portfolio of work across film, animation and a variety of commercial projects, and in 2012 was selected to attend the MA in Cinematography at the National Film and Television School.

Ian has had work screened at numerous festivals including Encounters, Aesthetica and the Glasgow Film Festival.  In 2011 he received an award at Shepparton Shorts Short Film Festival, Australia, and in 2012 was selected by Ideas Tap to make a new film with director Rose Hendry. He has gained a coveted BAFTA Scholarship to support his studies alongside his Dewar Award

How the Award Helped

Ian received a Dewar Award to enable him to continue studying at the prestigious NFTS.

Since the Award

Ian developed his skills and talents through his studies at NFTS. In 2015 was nominated for a New Talent Award by BAFTA Scotland for his Camera/Photography work on Seahorse – a story of a first love and a pregnant boy (see trailer below).

March 2015 – Nominated for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award: Camera/Photography, Seahorse

‘Seahorse’ Trailer – Ian Forbes (c) NFTS

Back

I feel tremendously fortunate to be supported with a Dewar Arts Award. Receiving the award has allowed me fulfil my long-time dream, to attend the MA in Cinematography at the National Film and Television School.

Back

2012 Awardee: Steven Ferguson

I have the chance of a lifetime to study on the National Film and Television School's MA Cinematography. From my teenage years I have dreamed of studying at the course and through a lot of hard work I have reached the point where I have been offered a place!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2012
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:http://vimeo.com/stevencferguson
 
 

Biography

Growing up in Cumbernauld, Steven was encouraged from an early age to follow his dreams.  He was instilled with a great sense of ambition and a belief that with hard work and passion you can achieve anything, whatever your background.  Steven’s passion turned out to be film, and he set out to carve himself a career in cinematography.

Supported by a student bursary, Steven completed a BA(Hons) in Digital Film and Television at what was then the RSAMD (now the RCS).  His graduation film, Ghost Story (see below), was screened at the Glasgow Film Festival and received much attention, being nominated for a Royal Television Society Scotland Award and winning ‘Best Fiction’ at the Creative Loop Awards. Steven graduated with a first class degree and has returned to the RCS frequently to support other students as a mentor.  He has also worked freelance as a lighting camera operator.

Steven shows immense capacity for cinematography, making work that is both visually beautiful and thematically sophisticated.  He is an imaginative storyteller who communicates with unique vision, and has been hailed as “a real Scottish talent with unlimited potential”.

As well as honing his craft in film, Steven intends to continue sharing skills and knowledge with up and coming talent.  He says: “I have seen first hand how being taught and passed on knowledge by others with passion for their craft can have a transformative effect – it is through the inspiration and encouragement from my tutors/lecturers that has led to many of my successes so far and put me on the right path.”

How the Award Helped

Steven had always dreamed of studying at the National Film and Television School, and in 2011 he was offered a coveted place on the MA in Cinematography. This presented a fantastic opportunity for Steven to develop his technique in areas such as lighting, composition and writing, and would take him to the next stage of his burgeoning career. The Dewar Arts Awards supported him in taking up the two year course in London.

Since the Award

Steven went from strength to strength at the NFTS. His graduation film earned him a BAFTA Scotland 2015 New Talent Award nomination for Camera/Photography. Entitled Sick, the film tells the story of a lonely, isolated mother (see trailer below).

May 2014 – Article in Variety: Film North nominated for a Student Oscar

April 2015 – BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award Winner 2015: Steven wins Camera/Photography Award and Best New Talent Award for film Sick

Steven’s graduate film Ghost Story from RCS on Vimeo.

Double win at BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards 2015

Back

I have the chance of a lifetime to study on the National Film and Television School's MA Cinematography. From my teenage years I have dreamed of studying at the course and through a lot of hard work I have reached the point where I have been offered a place!

Back

2008 Awardee: James Harrison

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

James has always wanted to work in films, behind the camera as a director of photography.

Born in England, James moved to Glasgow with his family as a young boy aged eight. He was one of the first students on the new degree course at the RSAMD in digital film and TV production, from where he graduated with a first.

While he was a student, he also worked in the department looking after the digital film and audio equipment. This additional responsibility brought him into contact with a wide range of people and organisations in the industry.

James’ next step after RSAMD is to attend a number of short training programmes at the National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield which are designed to mould high quality entrants into the film and television industries. They will provide him with the essential practical skills he needs in order to break into this highly-competitive industry.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funds James to attend a number of short programmes run by the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Back

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

Back

2007 Awardee: Christopher Maxwell

I am extremely grateful to the trustees.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from East Kilbride, Chris Maxwell is focussed on a career in the film industry behind the camera. His career goal is to become Director of Photography.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Christopher to attend short courses at the NFTVS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Chris attended two short courses at NFTS: Camera Familiarisation and Shooting on HD. He writes that the course was excellent for the content, the equipment he was able to use and gain experience on and the expert tuition he received from top professionals.

After observing him on the courses, his tutor strongly encouraged Chris in his career ambition to become a cinematographer.

Back

I am extremely grateful to the trustees.

Back

2007 Awardee: David Liddell

It means an enormous amount to have this financial support and to be considered in such a prestigious grouping as the Dewar Arts Award – I heartily accept.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Dalkeith, David Liddell gained a first class honours in digital film and television at Glasgow’s RSAMD. Since then he has won both an RTVSS award and a ‘Best Cinematography’ award at Scottish Students on Screen. His work has been screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and fellow Dewar Arts Awardee Paul Wright’s film, ‘Hikikomori’, on which David was cinematographer, won ‘Best New Work’ at BAFTA Scotland in 2007.

NFTS is a highly prestigious school (“where the new stars for the British film industry are germinated”) and where many of the top film industry professionals offer help and tuition. David is one of a number of talented young Scots in film who have received help from the Dewar Arts Award to study there. As David himself says, “this is a once in a lifetime chance to absorb myself in a passionate, creative and educational environment focusing on the minutiae of the craft.”

David Liddell is already well-known to, and respected by, professionals in the film industry and is considered to be a hugely talented cinematographer, who possesses considerable abilities in many other film specialties. His is a name to watch out for.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is helping David towards gaining a Master of Arts in Cinematography at the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

David successfully graduated with an MA in Cinematography, achieving a commendation for his dissertation ‘Through a Lens Secretly’. He describes his two years at NFTS as “the most exciting, inspirational and individual experience of my entire life”. His graduation film “Precipice” is being developed into a feature film and three of his short films will be premiered at the 2010 Edinburgh Film Festival. Since graduation, David has been tutoring part-time at the RSAMD whilst also working on new film projects.

Back

It means an enormous amount to have this financial support and to be considered in such a prestigious grouping as the Dewar Arts Award – I heartily accept.

Back

2005 Awardee: Benjamin Kracun

I am sincerely honoured to have been awarded the Dewar Arts Award. Without the Award I would never have been able to follow my passion for Cinematography.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.benjaminkracun.com
EMAIL:ben@benjaminkracun.com
 

Biography

Benjamin has long been interested in story telling, first through photography and later film. Benjamin grew up in rural Dumfriesshire as a first generation Scot of his Croatian father, who was made stateless after the break-up of Yugoslavia, and his German mother.

A graduate of Napier University, Benjamin’s graduation film was nominated for best British short at the 2004 Edinburgh International Film Festival. Subsequently he worked as Director of Photography on a Cineworks commission, ‘Suburban Home’, directed by a fellow Napier graduate, which was considered to be one of the year’s most accomplished productions. He is considered to be one of the brightest and most talented Scottish film-makers of his year.

Benjamin was later awarded a place on the cinematography course at the highly-regarded National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield, where he hopes to develop both his technical skills and creative practice.

For Those in Peril

Review in Variety Magazine
Feature in The Independent
Film details on IMDB

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will fund Benjamin through his two-year course on cinematography.

Since the Award

Benjamin graduated a Master of Arts in Cinematography with a Commendation. Two of his films were premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival, his graduation fiction film ‘One in Four’ and a documentary. While still at NFTS, Benjamin won first prize for a Kodak Student commercial. After graduation, Benjamin went straight into filming with Henry Coombes.

Benjamin Kracun has become an award winning Scottish Director of Photography, he is a visionary known for his powerful and emphatic aesthetics. His 2013 feature ‘For Those In Peril’ (directed by fellow Awardee Paul Wright) premiered at Cannes International Film Festival and won Best Debut at the BIFAs along with two BAFTA Scotland awards including Best Film. His 2012 feature film ‘The Comedian’ was nominated for the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at The London Film Festival.

Benjamin on the set of ‘One Night’

Back

I am sincerely honoured to have been awarded the Dewar Arts Award. Without the Award I would never have been able to follow my passion for Cinematography.

Back