EXCLUSIVE: The UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) has unveiled the winners at its 2026 Graduate Showcase, including composer Tessa White and production management student Kato Boels.
White, a graduate of the composing masters course, won the award for excellence in composing, while Boels won the most promising student prize including £1,000 award.
Full list of winners
“An outstanding production manager and coordinator, Kato supported graduation films far beyond her remit, often stepping into the most challenging productions and helping steady them under real pressure, ensuring crews were supported throughout and films were completed,” said Bex Hopkins, head of the NFTS production management diploma of Boels.
“[Tessa’s] growth has been marked by a clear and determined pursuit of looking to achieve work that is emotionally engaging, focused on narrative storytelling and that has a unique sonic language and sound world for each project she has worked on,” said the jury of White.
Further winners included Sandro Popkhadze, graduate of the sound design masters and recipient of the excellence in sound design prize, while Yujie Li won the excellence in editing award.
Casting directors Jina Jay and Shaheen Baig received their previously announced NFTS Honorary Fellowship prizes, presented by NFTS chair Sophie Turner Laing in recognition of their industry contributions, bodies of creative work and commitment to the NFTS. Jay and Baig co-founded the school’s casting certificate course, launched in 2020.
The Graduate Showcase for the 2026 class showed work from more than 80 original projects across film, television, animation, documentaries, comedy, commercials and games.
Attendees heard speeches from NFTS president David Puttnam, NFTS director Jon Wardle and Laing.
Last month, the NFTS unveiled The Cubby Broccoli Building, a new addition to its Beaconsfield campus, which will open in January 2027 with new courses and accessible on-site accommodation for disabled students.
The Showcase ran for four days at London’s BFI Southbank, with the graduation ceremony at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square.
NFTS Graduate Showcase 2026 winners
Most promising student – Kato Boels
Excellence in composing – Tessa White
Excellence in sound design – Sandro Popkhadze
Excellence in editing – Yujie Li
Excellence in non-scripted directing – Cathy Ellington for Overlooked – A Silent Extinction
Health and safety management in film production award – Sorcha Kahn, Jeanet Froidurot, Tamera Gathuru for Bikini State: Zombie Apocalypse
Best cinematography – Ravi Doubleday for Small One
Production Management diploma awards – Shannon de Kempe, Shreya Desai