Beeban Kidron

A look into directing graduate Beeban Kidron's time at the National Film and Television School.

Alex Still Shiva (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Beeban Kidron Intro
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Photography and NFTS

Beeban Kidron began to take pictures as a teenager with a camera given to her by landscape photographer Fay Godwin.  She enrolled at the National Film and Television School aged 20.

Beeban Kidron

Speaking about how she applied to the NFTS.

Carry Greenham Home Still (1) (1983) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Carry Greenham Home

Carry Greenham Home was Beeban Kidron's first documentary made in 1983 while a student at the NFTS.  The Women’s Peace Camp at Greenham Common was set up outside the United States airbase in 1981 to publicise the government’s decision to site cruise missiles at Greenham.  

Carry Greenham Home Still (3) (1983) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Greenham is about women’s opposition to a world that accepts cruise missiles; about the nature and spirit of women’s initiative in reclaiming the future.

Switching Course

Beeban speaks about joining the NFTS as a camera woman but leaving as a director.

Alex Still - Sara Sugarman at her desk (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Alex

Alex was Beeban Kidron's NFTS graduation film, a complete contrast in style and form to Carry Greenham Home.  

Alex Still - Sara Sugarman at her desk - Painting (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Synopsis

A wry, humorous look at what happens to Alex Falk when her boyfriend gets a job. Shot on 16mm.   Beeban talks about the film, below.

Alex Still - Sara Sugarman and Ian Mercer - Painting (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Alex Visuals

One of the reoccurring visual patterns in Alex is using a painting as a way into a shot, as seen here and the next image.

Alex Still - Sara Sugarman and Ian Mercer (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Alex Still - Sara Sugarman, Beeban Kidron, 1990, From the collection of: National Film and Television School
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Alex Still - Sara Sugarman Face Painting, Beeban Kidron, 1990, From the collection of: National Film and Television School
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Some of the many striking visuals from Beeban Kidron's film, Alex.

Alex Screening at BAFTA Press Release (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Beeban Kidron selected Filmography

Beeban went onto make such films as;
Oranges Are not the Only Fruit (1990)
Hookers Hustlers Pimps and Their Johns (1993)
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995), and
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004); to name a few.  

Alex Still Title (1990) by Beeban KidronNational Film and Television School

Beeban Kidron on what the NFTS taught her
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Beeban is also Chair of 5Rights Foundation and if the joint founder of the education charity "Into Film" which inspires and educates state school children aged 5–19, using film.  

Enjoy her NFTS graduation film Alex below.

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