Ravensbourne University London Digital Film Production students take on live briefs exploring British identity and place

As part of the module, students were joined by Anwar Akhtar, Director of cultural and arts organisation, The Samosa, and Phil Tidy, Director of the All Is Joy creative hub in Soho. Both partners delivered live briefs and spoke to students about their own creative practice, research processes and experiences working across film, culture and community.

Exploring identity, history and storytelling

Anwar spoke first, encouraging students to immerse themselves in what he described as the UK’s “Island Story” – exploring British history, empire, the Commonwealth and the importance of academic and intellectual enquiry within creative practice.

Drawing on the work of The Samosa, Anwar discussed previous projects including the research and development process behind Dara, the Mughal history play that travelled from Pakistan to the National Theatre. He explored how shared themes across the Mughal Empire and Tudor England, including religion and conflict, informed the adaptation of the production, which became the first South Asian history play adapted from Urdu, performed in English on the National Theatre’s main stage and later filmed for National Theatre Live.

Anwar spoke about his BBC Radio 4 documentary Schools Apart, which examines issues of inclusion, belonging and curriculum diversity in UK schools, as well as the process of making Pakistan’s Best Kept Secret: Lahore Museum. The film explores the significance of the Lahore Museum – not just in Asia, but also in the UK. Through its magnificent collection, it also tells the story of the two million British Indian Army soldiers who served during the Second World War. Anwar explored their sacrifice that helped the formation of Britain as a modern nation state. He also detailed the process of how young people in Manchester were able to tell their stories about their city as part of The Samosa’s Young, Gifted and Manc Youth Film Project, as a template for potential film themes and processes the students at Ravensbourne can develop for their film work.

Alongside this, Anwar reflected on his role in establishing Rich Mix Arts Centre in Bethnal Green, offering students insight into how artists, academics, community groups and funders can work together to create sustainable cultural spaces. He also talked about the relevance of diversity and inclusion in media, film production and journalism today, especially in the face of far-right populism and a collapse in confidence in our institutions. 

Filming Soho and Docklands in transition

Second-year students were also given a live brief by Phil Tidy from All Is Joy, a creative hub based in Soho that provides affordable workspaces, film screening rooms, podcast studios and a bar for creative practitioners.

All Is Joy have recently completed a takeover of the historically significant Compressor House in London Docklands, which is being transformed into a new cultural venue. Phil invited students to make short films exploring Soho and Docklands, focusing on how these areas are changing in response to shifts within the creative industries.

The brief encourages students to highlight both the people and physical spaces that reflect these transformations, using film as a tool to document and question urban change.

Real-world briefs, real-world experience

By working directly with external cultural organisations, students are gaining experience responding to professional briefs while engaging with complex themes including multiculturalism, representation and the future of cities.

The live briefs form part of Ravensbourne’s learning with industry approach, giving students the chance to apply visual storytelling techniques to real life contexts and build confidence ahead of future professional work.

The visiting industry partners have set students a genuine creative challenge and Ravensbourne looks forward to seeing the films that emerge from the project.