Any doubts about the bonds created by studying at a university in the UK, and what can be achieved as a result, have recently been dispelled by a short film work which was nominated for a BAFTA.

While Island Queen didn't end up taking home the EE BAFTA award for Best British Short Film, the work remains a huge point of pride for the Falmouth University. Produced by Head of Fashion Photography Emma Hughes, alongside Kirsty Smith (Fashion Photography lecturer and Georg Finch (Senior Lecturer in Animation) who acted as Directors of Photography for the project, Island Queen was shot on a budget of just £1,000.

Filming took place around Cornwall where Falmouth University is located with some familiar local spots featuring in the final cut. Students acted as runners and helpers too, with filming taking just 3 days. The film really was a homegrown project, from start to finish, earning the University the kind of excellent exposure that most universities could only dream of!

As well as being able to call the short film a BAFTA nominee, Island Queen has won numerous awards including the El Rey award for Excellence in Short Film-Making at the Barcelona Film Festival.

3 Lessons to learn....

Discover a new career

Even if your degree course isn't related to Film or TV Production, you can contribute in other ways which suit your talents or expertise. You may even discover a whole new passion and decide to change course in your studies accordingly - Have you even considered what to study at postgraduate level yet?

Add to your CV

Working on a short film doesn't have to be a massive contribution of your time. Island Queen wrapped in 3 days! Plus, you can practise many key skills which employers will look out for such as organisational skills and your ability to try new challenges. You never know: it may even make a good talking point in an interview!

Meet new people

Volunteering on such projects is really fun and gets you meeting new people (especially creative types). Some find it difficult to find their bearings or meet like-minded people on big campuses or when they first enrol. A project like a short film gives you the chance to meet people in smaller groups (which can be less daunting), whom you wouldn't otherwise interact with (especially if they belong to different departments and schools).

Watch the trailer for Island Queen below: