New student-backed films from Falmouth’s Sound/Image Cinema Lab
06 May 2025
George MacKay and Callum Turner on the set of Rose of Nevada. © Ian Kingsnorth
At Falmouth University, the path from lecture theatre to cinema screen is a lived experience. Through the university’s innovative Sound/Image Cinema Lab, students work on real-world film productions, gaining direct access to professional sets, nationally recognised projects, and learn from leading creatives in the UK’s independent film sector.
The Lab has become a pioneering model for higher education, nurturing bold new voices while equipping students with the practical skills and industry insight needed to succeed. Over the past year alone, more than 50 students have contributed to short films, documentaries, music videos, and features.
Here’s a look at some of this year’s standout student-supported releases.
Lead image: George MacKay and Callum Turner on the set of 'Rose of Nevada'. © Ian Kingsnorth
Rose of Nevada
More than 30 students from Falmouth University’s School of Film & Television joined the crew of Rose of Nevada, the forthcoming feature film from BAFTA-winning writer/director Mark Jenkin, who is a Distinguished Professor of Film Practice at Falmouth University.
Starring BAFTA nominees George MacKay (1917) and Callum Turner (The Boys in the Boat), and described by Ama Ampadu, Senior Production and Development Executive at the BFI, as “a hauntingly beautiful, time-bending sea-fishing tale”, the film was shot entirely in Cornwall last summer – offering students a unique opportunity to work with industry professionals.
The Severed Sun
The Severed Sun is the debut feature film from director and lecturer Dean Puckett, and produced by Film BA Course Leader, Dr Laura Canning. Starring Emma Appleton (The Witcher, Everything I know About Love), The Severed Sun is a haunting blend of folk horror and surreal storytelling, dark secrets fester in an isolated religious community. The film made its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas last year.
Through the university’s Sound/Image Cinema Lab, more than 20 students from across Film, Television, Costume Design, and Prosthetic Effects courses contributed to the project, gaining hands-on experience in roles ranging from on-set crew to post-production. Dark Sky Films will be releasing The Severed Sun on 16th May 2025 - in select theatres and Video on Demand.
The Birdwatcher
Falmouth students played a central role in the production of The Birdwatcher, a short cosmic horror film developed by Cornish production company Myskatonic in partnership with the university’s Sound/Image Cinema Lab.
Set in Cornwall, the film weaves together the region’s landscape, language, and folklore in a story of a group of investigators visiting the site of a strange disappearance at a solitary birdwatching hut.
The project brought together around 40 students and staff to collaborate across all stages of the filmmaking process - from costume design and prosthetics to on-set production, visual effects, postproduction, and marketing. Directed by Film BA(Hons) lecturer Ryan Mackfall, The Birdwatcher made its world premiere to a sold-out crowd at Glasgow’s FrightFest, the UK’s largest international genre film festival.
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