February 4, 2025

ACTION!

<< Back to all news

Former Hymers student and Wyke alumnus William Cherry has been recognised as an emerging film talent by the World Film Festival, hosted in Cannes. His latest film, Milo, has earned a nomination in the Best Young Filmmaker category, competing alongside directors from Australia and China.

The origins of Milo trace back to William’s A Level Film Studies coursework at Wyke. Since completing his studies in 2024,he has reshot and further developed the project into a festival-worthy production.

Reflecting on his journey, William shared, “It was filmed straight after leaving Wyke in the summer holidays after the exams. I’ve submitted to various national and international film festivals for 2025. So far, it has done well in the January festivals, and I hope this momentum will carry forward to the bigger festivals later in the year. I’ve had to keep it quiet about the film as a lot of the larger festivals want to be the premiere place of the film if it is selected or wins.”

William credits his experience on professional film sets as an actor for broadening his understanding of the industry. “I heard about the festivals through the crew on sets I have previously been on as an actor. On one film, I was a stand-in and got to watch how a professional crew film behind the scenes. This was very useful to me, and I really appreciated what learnt.”

Looking ahead, William is determined to establish himself as a director, crafting his own unique storytelling style. He acknowledges the strong foundation built at Wyke, where he produced Buoy—a film that deepened his understanding of cinematography and audio mixing. Milo, in particular, focuses heavily on sound design to immerse audiences in its world.

William’s dedication and talent were recognised with an A grade in A Level Film Studies and Distinction Star in Creative Media Production as well as the prestigious Wyke D’Or Award for his coursework.

Harvi Kaur, teacher of Film Studies at Wyke, praised William’s achievements, stating, “William’s creative vision and technical skills have always stood out. His ability to craft compelling narratives and push the boundaries of storytelling is truly inspiring. We are incredibly proud of his success and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.”

As Milo gains traction in the film festival circuit, all eyes will be on William Cherry as he takes his next steps toward a promising career in the film industry. Keep an eye out for Milo and support this rising talent on his journey to cinematic success!

Discover more about our creative film and media courses by visiting the Wyke course page https://www.wyke.ac.uk/courses

In Other News