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Film and Media Studies students meet industry professionals at Watersprite Film Festival

Hills Road students gained insight into film and TV careers at Cambridge's leading student film festival.

Published on 13/04/2026

Students from Hills Road Sixth Form College met with filmmaking professionals and learnt about careers in the creative industries at the Watersprite Film Festival last month.

Through a programme of talks, screenings and networking opportunities, students gained valuable insight into the film and television industry.

Held annually in Cambridge, Watersprite is one of the UK’s leading student film festivals, showcasing emerging filmmaking talent from around the world while connecting students with established industry professionals through its Creative Futures programme.

A timetable from the day, highlighting the breadth of opportunity available

As part of the day's programme, students took part in a session with freelance director Chloe Thomas, who shared her experiences working across television and film. Offering an honest and engaging look at her career, she provided students with a clearer understanding of the skills, resilience and collaboration required in the industry.

Kamila Matviienko, a Year 12 student at Hills Road, found Chloe's talk particularly motivating. She said: "Speaking with Chloe Thomas and hearing about her experiences on set gave me a huge boost of motivation and a clearer understanding of how the industry works."

Throughout the day, students heard from a range of professionals, including producers, writers and visual effects specialists, highlighting the breadth of career pathways available within the creative sector. “I really loved the overall atmosphere, with so many people passionate about developing careers in the film industry," Kamila added.

[Image right: A timetable of the event]

Asian cinema seminar from Cambridge University lecturer

Year 12 student Lara Williams said, "For me, the highlight of the day was meeting a director of the ITV show Grantchester. We went through a day in the life of being a director, looking at scripts and floor plans to help us picture a filming day."

Lara also found the event a valuable networking opportunity, even leading to her own work experience plans. She explained, "After the festival, I contacted Vine FX, having heard their talk on the day. They have now offered me summer work experience, which shows how valuable events like Watersprite can be for making industry connections."

[Image left: Hills students at an Asian cinema seminar, held by a lecturer at the University of Cambridge]

“Watersprite is a wonderful annual event which gives Film and Media Studies insider insights into what it’s like working in the creative industries and how to make the first steps towards creative careers.”
Tanya Jones, Head of English, Media and Film