Northumbria film students call 'action' on support for local charity

A group of aspiring Film and TV Production students from Northumbria University have put their skills into practice, producing an impactful film for a local charity as part of their degree programme.

Film Buddy works with Northumbria to make the film industry accessible for students wishing to gain experience before graduating. Students collaborate with employers, practice their skills and build their CVs, enhancing their career prospects.

As part of the experiential learning offering at Northumbria, Film Buddy pitched a brief to the students to produce a short film showcasing North East-based charity, Feeding Families and the important work they do for the local community.

Feeding Families offers support, hope, and security to those experiencing food insecurity. They ensure thousands of families in desperate need have access to emergency food boxes and support packages.  

Emily Courten, who was the student Camera Assistant on the film, said: “Working with Film Buddy and Feeding Families was an exciting project to undertake as part of my degree. Aside from being an amazing practical work experience, being part of this film has been a real eye opener on the needs and struggles that are going unseen in the local community.

“Feeding Families work extremely hard to support the community and it has been a pleasure to assist on this project, helping to raise awareness of the fantastic work that goes on behind the charity warehouse doors.”

Sanghita Sen, Assistant Professor in Visual Communication and Digital Cultures, added: “Working on live briefs is an essential part of the learning experience for Film students at Northumbria, and this is a brilliant example of how our students thrive in these environments. Each student has shown maturity and professionalism and have produced a film they should be very proud of.”

Film Buddy equip Northumbria students with the knowledge and skills required to be professional filmmakers after graduation, which includes how to navigate sensitive topics and situations.   

Founder and Company Director of Film Buddy, Ben Sweet explained: “It’s been great to work with a group of talented and ambitious students at Northumbria. Working with a charity close to home has allowed them to witness the impact of their work first hand, which is a powerful thing to see. The team have produced an excellent film which will undoubtedly benefit Feeding Families and the local community in which they serve.”

Steve Sheard, Head of Operations at Feeding Families added: “We recently had the pleasure of hosting a group of students from Northumbria University who met with staff and volunteers to capture the essence of our work.

“We are thrilled with the exceptionally high-quality video they produced. It perfectly highlights what we do and why we do it, demonstrating a deep understanding of our mission. We could not have asked for a better representation of our efforts.

“The video has been shared with our partners and fundraisers and we are confident it will make a significant impact. On behalf of the entire team at Feeding Families, we cannot thank the team enough for their dedication and hard work.”

Northumbria University has committed to providing transformative experiential learning opportunities for every on-campus undergraduate student to build their skills, social capital and enhance their post-university prospects.

Find out more about studying at Northumbria.