Fighting Chance

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Film graduates’ work gets a ‘Fighting Chance’ at Royal Television Society Student Awards

A crew of recent Bath Spa University graduates have had their short film documentary 'Fighting Chance' shortlisted in the prestigious Royal Television Society (West) Student Awards.

BA (Hons) Film, Television and Digital Production graduates Bethany Andrews and Haydn Feltham, and BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies graduate Oli Batten made their documentary in their final semester at the University. The 10-minute film — which is one of just four shortlisted in the ‘Factual’ category — follows the lives of two young people who have been helped by the Empire Fighting Chance organisation in Bristol.

Empire Fighting Chance aims to challenge the impact of deprivation by inspiring young people through a combination of non-contact boxing and intensive personal support.

The three said that creating the documentary was “an incredible journey,” from learning to adapt to the curve balls that Covid restrictions threw at them, to meeting and being inspired by the young people at Empire Fighting Chance gym.

“The entire experience sums up what makes us so passionate about the art of documentary making, getting the opportunity to not only work with talented, like-minded creatives, but also the opportunity to tell wonderful, real stories on film,” Bethany, the director, said.

Bethany continued: “We feel honoured that our documentary has been nominated for the RTS West of England Student awards and that not only our hard work has been recognised, but also the inspirational stories of these young people and their mentors."

Sharon Alcock, Lecturer in Film, TV and Digital Production at Bath Spa University, said: “Just four films have been nominated for the shortlist in this category, so this is a highly prestigious recognition for our Bath Spa students.”

The crew will be attending the Awards Ceremony at Everyman Cinema in Bristol on 15 March. We wish them the best of luck!