New film and animation talent on show at Filmhouse

A former David Bowie collaborator, a Hollywood star and the Arab Spring all featured in a two-day showcase of ECA film and animation students at the city's Filmhouse cinema.

Every year graduating students get the chance to display their work on the big screen in front of the public. This year's cohort features a diverse range of films ranging from award-winning music videos to hard-hitting documentaries.

On Monday 18 June, the work of 10 animation students was shown including BAFTA winner Ainslie Henderson. His animation tells the tale of a performer crippled with anxiety and features the voice of Pirates of the Caribbean star Mackenzie Crook.

Also being screened was an animated music video by Anna Ginsburg. The film was commissioned by Island Records for the Bombay Bicycle Club's single How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep. The fourth-year student spent six months working on the three-minute video, and listened to the song 25 times a day. Anna won the best overall BAFTA new talent prize at this year's award.

In advance of the Edinburgh International Film Festival

On Tuesday 19 June, seven films produced by students were screened, five of which feature in the Edinburgh International Film Festival programme.

Sara Issac's BAFTA-nominated documentary, Karama Has No Walls, explores Yemen's recent revolution and the violations of human rights that followed. The 30 minute documentary, screened globally, has already been highly influential in the Middle East.

Another highlight is Magda Dragan's film, Soliloquy, about the life choices of a young composer. In the 1960s and 1970s Michael Garrett collaborated with David Bowie and Ken Russell but now lives alone on an Edinburgh council estate.

Upcoming talent were also showcased as second and third-year students presented their work alongside graduating students.

This is a strong year for films from our students, some of which have already been travelling to festivals all over the world and causing a stir. We're especially delighted at the variety of drama and documentaries this year.

The ECA animation show this year will allow the public the opportunity to view the films of an outstanding group of animators. The work on screen is the product of four years developing their skills and refining their ideas here in Edinburgh.