Leeds filmmaker celebrates success at awards

A passionate filmmaker and Leeds graduate is celebrating after her film scooped a top prize at the NAHEMI National Student Film Awards 2024.

Yutong Wang’s MA film ‘Miss V’ was given the Performance Award for her film which she produced and directed while studying on the Film, Photography and Media MA at Leeds.  

Yutong said: “I'm truly honoured that Miss V has won the Best Performance award at the NAHEMI National Student Film Awards 2024. 

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to my incredible team for their hard work and collaboration. Their talent and dedication made this film possible.” 

The film follows the story of Vie, an East Asian girl living in the UK who is searching for her place between Western and Eastern cultural contexts, and within her own identity as a woman. 

Yutong added: “I am also deeply grateful to the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds for supporting this project, and to everyone who has been part of this journey. I will continue to explore feminist cinema and tell stories that deserve to be heard." 

This is the third year in a row a student film from Leeds has been included in the official selection for the National Student Film Awards, run by NAHEMI.  

Rafe Clayton, Senior Lecturer in Media Practice, congratulated Yutong on her success, adding: “Our Film, Photography and Media productions are competing against those made by dedicated practice-based film schools from across the nation. This marks three continuous years of achieving national recognition.”