Key Points
- Official Selection: Nathan Wallace-Auguste, a Media and Communications student studying at the London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD) of the University of West London (UWL), has been chosen for his documentary titled “Acting Normal” in three different categories (Documentary, Homegrown, and Student) at the Ealing Film Festival.
- Film Focus: The documentary looks into the personal experience of Nathan with autism, the importance of acting in feeling “normal,” and discusses with his father his reaction to the autism.
- Festival Review: As cited in Ldn-Post, Anna Stefanek, the Festival’s Communications Manager, has described the documentary as “an incredibly candid and personal documentary film” and highlighted its emotional connection with the idea of normality.
- Student Response: Nathan Wallace-Auguste is thankful to the UWL for giving him all the necessary means to create the project and has mentioned that he felt honoured by the selection.
- Extra Selections: Three different short films made by Visual Effects students Evan Almond, Jesse Williams, and Romar Brickersteth-Dixon have been longlisted by the Festival and honoured mentions.
- Music and Audio Collaboration: Additionally, there is a film that includes performances by UWL’s London College of Music’s 90 Songs Project, with full Dolby Atmos audio included in the film.
- Increased Partnerships: Anna Stefanek, a former UWL student, stressed that there was an increase in collaboration between the Festival and UWL, allowing student Karyna Fedorchuk to gain work experience in collaboration with professional film crews during filming.
- New Academic Courses: This partnership takes place in conjunction with the new course for LSFMD’s Film, Screen and Content Production, led by Course Leader Dr Jo Henderson.
- Leadership Quotes: Paul Lohneis, the Head of LSFMD, spoke about the importance of the partnership and how it provides live briefs and real industry experience in areas such as filmmaking, advertising, PR and graphic design.
London (West London Times) September 26, 2026 — Students from the London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD) at the University of West London (UWL) are celebrating a major milestone as their creative works secure official selections, longlistings, and honourable mentions for next month’s upcoming uk/local/ealing/">Ealing Film Festival.
As reported by Ldn-Post, Media and Communications student Nathan Wallace-Auguste has achieved a triple success with his documentary titled “Acting Normal,” which has been officially selected across three distinct categories: Documentary, Homegrown, and Student.
The documentary explores Nathan’s personal journey growing up with autism, investigating how acting assisted him in feeling more “normal.” Furthermore, the film incorporates deeply personal conversations with his father detailing his initial reactions to his son’s diagnosis.
Sharing her perspective on the project, Festival’s Communications Manager Anna Stefanek stated in coverage by Ldn-Post:
“Acting Normal is an incredibly candid and personal documentary, and there’s something very affecting about the way Nathan examines his own relationship with the idea of ‘normality’. We’re delighted to continue celebrating emerging talent from UWL.”
Reflecting on his selection and institutional support, Nathan stated as reported by Ldn-Post:
“I really appreciate UWL giving me the tools and opportunity to make this important short film and I’m honoured to be selected. I hope it resonates with people.”
Complementing Nathan’s achievement, the Festival also recognised three short films produced by Visual Effects students Evan Almond, Jesse Williams, and Romar Brickersteth-Dixon, which successfully earned longlistings and honourable mentions. Additionally, the festival itinerary includes a collaborative film featuring performances by students originating from UWL’s London College of Music’s 90 Songs Project, enhanced by immersive Dolby Atmos audio engineering.
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How Is the Growing Partnership Between UWL and the Ealing Film Festival Benefiting Students?
The creative achievements arrive on the heels of a deepening institutional relationship between the university and the festival organisation. Over the preceding year, representatives from the Festival have visited UWL to engage directly with students.
This interaction yielded tangible professional benefits for student Karyna Fedorchuk, whose work featured in last year’s emerging talent screening. As reported by Ldn-Post, her involvement led directly to work experience opportunities working shoulder-to-shoulder with a professional film crew on location.
Elaborating on this alliance, Festival Communications Manager and UWL graduate Anna Stefanek noted, as reported by Ldn-Post:
“We’re incredibly proud of our growing relationship with UWL and the opportunities it creates for students across different disciplines from filmmaking to graphic design, advertising and PR.”
These collaborative ties align directly with academic expansions at the institution. LSFMD has recently launched its brand-new Film, Screen and Content Production degree. Course Leader Dr Jo Henderson, who intends to take an incoming cohort of students to the screenings to provide inspiration, commented as reported by Ldn-Post:
“We’re excited to be building on LSFMD’s strengths in filmmaking and media production in this new course – and will be making good use of the University’s great TV studio and greenscreen facilities. Ealing is such an iconic place for film production and we’re looking forward to fantastic work from our new students.”
Reinforcing these sentiments, Head of LSFMD Paul Lohneis shared his enthusiasm regarding the broader institutional trajectory. As reported by Ldn-Post, Paul Lohneis stated:
“We’re delighted to see the Festival showcasing the excellent work our students have been doing – and the great opportunities this partnership is offering students, from the chance to gain experience of working in the film industry, to live briefs honing skills in Advertising and PR, and Graphic Design. We’re looking forward to developing our relationship with the Festival even further in the years ahead.”
Background of the Development
The recent student successes at the Ealing Film Festival represent the culmination of years of targeted academic development and local community integration by the London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD) at the University of West London (UWL). Ealing has historically held a legendary status within British cinema history—famously known as the home of Ealing Studios, which birthed classic post-war British comedies and major cinematic productions.
By fostering a direct pipeline between university classrooms and local cultural fixtures like the Ealing Film Festival, LSFMD has sought to re-establish the borough’s vibrant heritage by bridging academic media training with real-world industry practice. Over recent academic cycles, UWL has heavily invested in modern facilities, including advanced television studios and greenscreen production spaces, positioning its student body to meet the rigorous demands of contemporary screen production, visual effects, and digital media industries.
This strengthening partnership and prominent festival recognition are poised to significantly elevate the profile and employability of students enrolled within the London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD) at the University of West London. For current and prospective media, film, and visual effects students, the visible platform provided by the Ealing Film Festival translates into direct industry networking, professional mentorship, and coveted on-set work experience.
By integrating live briefs and real-world exposure into foundational curricula—such as the newly launched Film, Screen and Content Production degree—the institution is narrowing the gap between graduation and professional entry. Consequently, students and emerging local creators stand to gain heightened portfolio visibility, improved career trajectories within the competitive British creative industries, and robust institutional backing that nurtures neurodivergent and diverse storytelling formats on mainstream professional platforms.
