2026 NFTS Graduation: Celebrating the Next Generation of Industry Talent

Friday 6 March 2026 marked this year’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) Graduation ceremony, following an incredible four-day showcase at BFI Southbank celebrating the achievements of the graduates and the exceptional body of work they have produced over the past year.

Honouring Industry Leaders

During the graduation ceremony, held at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, esteemed Casting Directors Jina Jay and Shaheen Baig were awarded NFTS Honorary Fellowships in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the screen industry and their long-standing support of the school. Both have played a transformative role in developing the NFTS Casting Certificate course, which they co‑founded in 2020.

The honours were presented by NFTS Chair Sophie Turner Laing, with additional remarks from NFTS President Lord David Puttnam and NFTS Director Jon Wardle, who collectively applauded the graduates’ achievements and the school’s ongoing commitment to nurturing new talent.

Casting Directors Shaheen Baig and Jina Jay

Sargent-Disc: Supporting emerging industry talent

Sargent-Disc is proud to play a part in supporting the next generation of production talent through our long-standing relationship with the NFTS Production Management Diploma.

Our scholarship support helps remove financial barriers for aspiring Production Managers, enabling students to focus fully on developing the essential skills required for careers in film and television. This year’s graduates continue to demonstrate why such support is so critical: their work reflects resilience, innovation and an exceptional standard of professionalism.

Recognising Outstanding Student Achievement

At the graduation ceremony, students were honoured for their accomplishments across multiple disciplines. Amongst these, Sargent-Disc was delighted to present two awards, recognising excellence in budgeting, cost control and reporting: core skills for any successful production professional.

The Best All-Round Production Management Award went to Shannon de Kempe – a PM who consistently worked above and beyond her remit, across a wide range of productions and genres, including the Science & Natural History film ‘Ghost in your Eyes‘ shot in the USA across a wide geographical area.

Her Fiction film, ‘Rice‘ was complicated and involved significant location challenges, including taking a large crew to North Wales on a residential shoot where she resolved some complex problems whilst staying calm and focussed to keep the production on track.

Shreya Desai was presented with the Best Budgeting award, having shown an exceptional standard in her budgeting and cost reporting work as Production Manager on the beautiful Documentary film ‘Corps à Coeur‘. She worked closely with her director throughout pre-production and was instrumental in setting up a complicated film shoot in France with sensitive contributor access. Her fiction film ‘Small One’ involved taking a full crew to Denmark shooting over a wide area with multiple locations and unit moves. 

From an early stage Shreya’s budget breakdowns showed an informed and detailed approach; she worked closely with her Producers and Directors to fully embrace the budget’s limitations of filming overseas. She was critical to her team’s established strong communication and maintained an accurate cost report, allowing them plenty of flexibility to maximise filming opportunities and make the best possible films on tight budgets.

Both graduates received £500 and Final Draft software as part of the awards – congratulations Shreya and Shannon!

Sargent-Disc Director, Dr. Laurence Sargent commented:

“This year’s Best Budgeting Skills Award and Best All-Round Production Management Award went to two exceptional Production Management students who went above and beyond, demonstrating outstanding work. Sargent-Disc, a Cast & Crew company, is delighted to support them and our Production Management scholars and to recognise their hard work and success.”

Left to right: Bex Hopkins, Head of the NFTS Production Management diploma; Shreya Desai; Dr Laurence Sargent; Shannon de Kempe; Emma Wilford, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sargent-Disc

Looking Ahead

The NFTS Graduate Showcase 2026 stands as a testament to the creativity, dedication and talent emerging from the school each year. Sargent-Disc is proud to champion these graduates through our scholarship support and ongoing partnership with the NFTS, encouraging the next generation of behind‑the‑camera professionals as they begin their careers across the screen industries.

Photo copyright: National Film and Television School

A decade of support for NFTS scholars: Ewelina Dziedzic

Over the past decade, Sargent-Disc’s annual scholarships aided 20 graduates from the National Film and Television School (NFTS). To celebrate this landmark the alumni of the Production Management Diploma Programme reflect on the scholarship’s impact.

 

Ewelina Dziedzic’s journey in the film industry exemplifies the power of determination and the opportunities that arise when one seeks support. Through her unwavering dedication and the assistance of the Sargent-Disc scholarship, Ewelina overcame financial obstacles and was able to pursue her dreams at the NFTS. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers, highlighting the importance of passion, hard work, and seeking out opportunities that can shape a successful career in the dynamic world of film production.

Locaction shot from Call My Agent

Ewelina’s fascination with filmmaking began at a young age when she participated in creating a promotional film for her high school. The experience sparked her interest in production management, a role that blended her passion for logistics, organisation, art, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. However, coming from a small town with no connections to the film industry, Ewelina had to rely on her own determination to pave her way.

While working full-time Ewelina pursued part-time studies in production management. She juggled various film and non-film jobs, constantly building her portfolio and network. Seeking opportunities on bigger international projects, she made the bold decision to move to the capital city of Poland, Warsaw. Commuting every weekend to attend classes, she embraced the challenges that came with starting anew in a foreign city. She learnt that she needed to be her biggest supporter and motivator, because if she wouldn’t believe in herself, no one else will.

Location shot from ESKMO music video

As Ewelina approached graduation, her desire to work on larger-scale international projects grew stronger. She obtained a Master’s degree in producing in London and applied to the NFTS Production Management Diploma course. Recognizing the school’s exceptional reputation and the potential for career advancement, Ewelina was determined to overcome any hurdles that came her way.

One significant obstacle Ewelina faced was the inability to apply for a student loan to cover the tuition fees at NFTS. With limited savings and no financial support from her family, she refused to let this setback deter her dreams. Driven by her passion and determination, she explored all available scholarship opportunities. It was during this search that she discovered the Sargent-Disc scholarship. This scholarship covered half of her tuition fees, allowing her to pursue her studies at NFTS, connecting her to the industry and providing opportunities for career progression.

Location scouting at the NFTS

Ewelina describes her time at the NFTS as transformative. The course emphasised hands-on learning, with students working on various projects, ranging from commercials and short films to games and documentaries. As a production manager, Ewelina was responsible for overseeing logistics, budgeting, crew management, and problem-solving. The programme allowed her to learn from experienced professionals, gain valuable industry knowledge, and build a network of like-minded individuals.

Following her graduation from NFTS, Ewelina’s career soared. She worked as assistant production coordinator on notable productions The Serpent Queen 2 starring Samantha Morton, 2nd Unit of Boys in the Boat directed by George Clooney and also Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Ewelina was also the Travel Coordinator for The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, directed by Guy Ritchie (starring Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Cary Elwes, and Eiza Gonzalez), and the Cast and Travel Coordinator on KAOS, written by Charlie Covell (starring Jeff Goldblum, Janet McTeer, and David Thewlis). Her experiences enabled her to refine her skills, expand her network, and continue to grow within the industry. More recently she has been production managing short films such as Left Over starring Chloe Pirrie and Ian Hart for BFI Network. This year Ewelina was accepted into BAFTA Connect; adding to her accolades as Production Guild of Great Britain member since 2022 and taking part in the BFI Academy last year. This involved working with young filmmakers as the Production Management tutor on two films at the NFTS. Finally, we would love to offer our congratulations to Ewelina on her NFTS graduation documentary receiving nominations for the Royal Television Awards and the Grierson Documentary Awards. 

Boys in the Boat night shoot

For more information on the Production Management for Film and Television Diploma course, visit the NFTS website.

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