Graduate wins Bafta for film about Ukraine

A graduate who received a major film award has described the win as a "surreal".

Franz Böhm studied at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, after he moved to the UK from Germany.

His film about the war in Ukraine, Rock, Paper, Scissors, won a Bafta for Best British Short Film.

"Being part of the Bafta ceremony is already such a dream, then when we had the enormous honour and pleasure of winning the award that was absolutely surreal," he said.

"It was certainly an amazing atmosphere there, it was insane to be invited to the winners' bar. I tried to keep it cool, I had amazing people speak to me, and I was trying to act like it was every day business for me."

The 20-minute short film is a war thriller based on the true story of a 17-year-old Ukrainian civilian named Ivan.

The film was shot in the UK and featured a performance by Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Rudynskyy.

Mr Böhm wrote and directed the film during a two-year masters course on directing fiction.

"It was our graduation project... For the graduation film we do get a lot of support from the school itself, it is obviously a proper film and everything, but it was made during our time at the film school," he said.

"I think I did OK there, I certainly wasn't the best student of all."

The winner of Best Short Animation, Wander to Wonder, was made by NFTS alumnus Nina Gantz.

Another former student, Nick Park, picked up two BAFTAs for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.

In 2024, NFTS students triumphed in the British Short Animation and British Short Film categories for the films Crab Day and Jellyfish and Lobster.

NFTS director Jon Wardle said: "Winning BAFTAs for student work two years in a row speaks volumes about the creativity, dedication, and innovation of our students.

"The School continues to be a global leader in film and animation training, and we couldn't be prouder of the team for this outstanding BAFTA win.

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