News and Events

UK television debut for BU graduates

29 July 2008

A film directed and produced by two BU graduates receives its TV premiere this weekend on Channel 4.

A global award-winning movie directed by two BU graduates about AIDS orphans in South Africa is being broadcast on Channel 4 on Saturday 2 August at 7.30pm.

‘We are Together’ opened to critical acclaim at UK cinemas in March 2008 and has won many prestigious awards during the last year. Critics described it as a powerful, moving and uplifting film.

Made on a budget of only £8,000, director Paul Taylor and Teddy Leifer developed the idea while studying BA (Hons) Television Production at our renowned Media School.

Filmed over three years, ‘We Are Together’ tells the remarkable and moving story of a group of children who use music to overcome hardship and loss.

It features the young people and their teachers as they prepare to travel to London for a series of concerts.

Paul worked as a volunteer in the Agape Orphanage in South Africa during his degree and was inspired by the children he met, their messages of hope and their love of singing.

He then went on to make the micro-budget movie about the Orphanage choir with his business partner Teddy, through their production company RISE Films.

Described by U2’s Bono as “an incredible piece of work” ‘We Are Together’ has won many prestigious international awards the world over for its inspirational and moving story.

It won a host of awards when previewed in 2007 at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Amnesty International Film Festival, among others.

Paul and Teddy, who graduated in 2005, have also set up a trust fund, the RISE Foundation, which receives all proceeds of the film for the children of Agape and other HIV/AIDS projects.

Paul said: “We’ve been supporting the kids from Agape for a year and a half to go to a much better school. Our goal is to raise £500,000, put in an education fund which will enable us to send many children to school and help pay their school fees forever.”

Related Aticles:

UK film premiere for BU graduates