Agata’s grandmother played the lead role in her film.
Roll out the red carpet:
Agata wins at the BAFTAs
“
When I first came
to Scotland I never
thought about
making films. Now
I can’t think about
anything else
A
”
GRADUATE FROM QMU has
been awarded a BAFTA. Agata
Jagodzinska, who is originally
from Poland, won an award for Best
Writer at the BAFTA in Scotland
New Talent Awards 2012. Her short
film, ‘Secret of Confession’ was
also nominated in the Best Short
Film category at the BAFTA award
ceremony in April.
Agata studied a BA (Hons) in Media at
QMU. Her short film was produced as
her final year dissertation project. It is the
first QMU film ever to be shot in Poland
and recorded in the Polish language. It is
also the first QMU film to be nominated
and awarded a BAFTA.
‘Secret of Confession’ highlights the
generational conflict between the young
and the elderly community in Poland.
Many of Agata’s family members star in
the film, with her grandmother playing
the lead role.
Agata explains: “The fil m tells the story
of a religious elderly woman who is
constantly confronted by misbehaving
youngsters. Dismayed by the general
acceptance of pornography and
contraception amongst the younger
population, she decides to punish them
for their promiscuous behaviour. But
her extreme action results in a terrible
outcome.”
Agata continued: “I wanted to use the
film to bring to light some of the cultural
issues which are currently affecting
Polish society. I screened the film in
my home town. It was such a thrill for
everyone to see the residents of my
small town up there on the big screen.
None of them, including my gran, have
ever acted before or been involved in any
kind of film making, so it was a really big
deal for everyone.”
At the award ceremony, Agata said:
“When I first came to Scotland I never
thought about making films. Now I can’t
think about anything else. I would never
have been able to make this film without
the support of my lecturers at QMU –
Walid Salhab and Graham Drysdale. I
am extremely grateful to both of them.”
Jude MacLaverty, Director of BAFTA
in Scotland said, “BAFTA in Scotland
is committed to rewarding excellence,
honouring new talent, and promoting the
Scottish moving image industries to the
wider public. The New Talent Awards
recognise the best of emerging Scottish
screen talent and we are thrilled to shine
the spotlight on our winners and to
support their exceptional achievements.”
Jude added, “It’s great to see such a
vibrant international community within
Scotland’s moving images industries.
There is a real feeling that Scotland is
the place to be at the moment, which
is why so many students and young
people are flocking here to study and
forge a career.”
Initially screened at the Edinburgh
Filmhouse as part of QMU’s graduation
show, the film has since been screened
at various film festivals across Europe.
‘Secret of Confession’ won the
‘Audience Award’ at the biggest
travelling festival in Poland, Filmowa
Gora 2011, and ‘Best Screenplay’ at the
Exposures Film Festival 2012, which is
one of the top film festivals to showcase
new talent in the UK.
Having decided to remain in Edinburgh,
Agata has been spending the last
year getting her own film production
company off the ground. In partnership
with another QMU graduate, Agata
established ‘Raw Film Productions’. The
team specialises in corporate videos and
short documentaries.
Walid Salhab, lecturer in film at QMU,
said: “This is the first time that one of
our student films has won a BAFTA, so
this is a real coup for Agata. We often
encourage our international students
to shoot their films in their homeland. It
helps them create a truly unique product
with a distinctive look.”
Walid concluded: “For such a young
filmmaker, Agata produced a very high
standard of work and it’s wonderful that
her talents have been recognised by
such a prestigious award.”
QMYOU / Creativity & Culture
7