NSCG Students make Birmingham Film Festival Debut
29 September 2026
A group of talented filmmakers from Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) have had their film ‘The Meltdown’ selected for the Birmingham Film Festival this November.
The short film, adapted from an original piece of writing by director Sam Foster, will be a screened during the festival on Tuesday 10th November at Royal Cinemas Sutton Coldfield.
Director and NSCG alumni Sam, who achieved impressive A Level grades of A*AB earlier this year, has been nominated for Best Young Director for his work on the project – and it’s no surprise. After adapting a short story to a screenplay, pitching to fellow film students, advertising for actors across the college and three months of relentless dedication, him and his team have produced a fantastic piece of work which explores social dependency on modern technology.
Sam said. “A key moment for me was hosting the premiere in the college auditorium. Seeing the turnout for the project was wonderful, and being able to speak about all the work we’d put in over those three months made it all worthwhile. Filming ‘The Meltdown’ has 100% encouraged me to pursue a career in film, and has granted me the confidence in my filmmaking ability ahead of starting my degree.
“NSCG was able to accommodate our creative freedom, and the continual support and feedback from staff made it all possible. From the logistics of set handling to rallying the cast and crew, the support has been invaluable.”
Empowered to submit to a variety of film festivals, Sam’s hard work has now been recognised by Birmingham Film Festival, and we’re incredibly proud to see what he goes on to achieve as he continues to hone his craft at the University of Staffordshire.
In charge of lighting for the production was, Alfie Blaize, current NSCG A Level Film Studies student, who commented: “This project opened my eyes to a film set and what is expected and required of me. Everyone has been so welcoming and full of support, and while I was already interested in pursuing a career in film, this has solidified my ambitions.”
Sophie Bryan, current NSCG A Level Film Studies student and Runner on the project said, “Vee [NSCG tutor] has been great about talking about specific universities and which courses will be best suited to me.”
Charlie Whitehurst, Graphic Designer for the project and current NSCG A Level Film Studies student said “Being on the set of ‘The Meltdown’ was my first real experience of film production and it made me more confident when it came to filming my own short film. I already knew I wanted a career in film, but this project has given me first-hand knowledge of how fun and collaborative film production can be, giving me renewed motivation to work towards my career ambitions.”
Each department at NSCG strives to provide the skills and opportunities for young people to pursue their passions and build successful careers.