From film students to award-winning independent filmmakers, Alex Hogarth and his fellow alumni continue to build on their growing success in the film industry.
Following the festival recognition of Tomorrow Never Knows, Alex and his team have returned with another ambitious short film, Scab. Created by Alex Hogarth alongside fellow Buckinghamshire College Group and CMS alumni Korben Wilkinson (Cinematographer), Fin Jordan (Sound Recordist) and Felix Pridmore (Script Supervisor), the film is already attracting attention on the festival circuit with multiple award wins, nominations and official selections. Scab marks the group's first independent short film since graduating and showcases the creative skills, collaboration and passion for storytelling they developed during their time at college.
The film follows Michael, a young man living with Dermatillomania, who has learned to conceal his struggles behind carefully maintained routines and behaviours. As the coping mechanisms he relies upon begin to break down, Scab explores the delicate balance between control and compulsion, offering an insight into a condition that is often misunderstood.
The team's hard work has already been recognised at several film festivals, including:
- London Film Club - Winner, Best Horror
- Bournemouth International Film Festival - Official Selection
- 2 Counties Independent Film Festival (2CIFF), based in Milton Keynes - Winner, Best SFX and nominated for Best Horror
Adding to their growing list of achievements, Scab has also been selected for the London Breeze Film Festival, a BIFA-qualifying festival, in the Young Filmmakers (19-25) category. The film will be screened at The Garden Cinema in London later this October.
Reflecting on the film's success, Alex Hogarth (Producer, Co-Director and Editor) said:
"Being recognised by film festivals for our first independent short film, Scab, means a huge amount to me and the team. It’s given me a lot of confidence in the demand for young filmmakers telling their own unique stories. Working with many of the same people from Tomorrow Never Knows and seeing the leap in progress we’ve made between the two projects has been incredibly reaffirming. Everyone has continued developing their craft, while we’ve also introduced new members to the team, building on the connections and foundations we first formed during our time at college.
I’d love to see the film continue its festival run and reach as wide an audience as possible. Beyond that, my main focus is finding the funding and support to make a bigger project and take what we’ve learned from Scab onto a more ambitious scale.
In the long term, I want to keep building a body of work across film, fashion and music while moving towards larger narrative projects and eventually feature films. I’m still early in that journey but every project feels like another opportunity to develop, meet new collaborators and get closer to making the kind of work I ultimately want to direct."
For Alex and the team, the success of Scab is the latest milestone in a filmmaking journey that began in the classrooms and studios of Buckinghamshire College Group. As they continue to develop their skills, collaborate on new projects and gain recognition from audiences and industry professionals alike, their achievements highlight the exciting opportunities available to students’ pursuing careers in the creative industries.
Everyone at Buckinghamshire College Group congratulates Alex and the team on their latest success and looks forward to following the next chapter of their filmmaking journey!
