Film will be screened to the public at various locations across the UK

A group of talented students and graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Digital Arts (SODA) have created a new film in partnership with Imperial War Museums (IWM) to mark the 80^th anniversary of VJ Day. 

Five students and graduates were invited to collaborate with IWM to create a new two-minute contemporary film August 1945: It Was Over Then.
 

The team included BA (Hons) Filmmaking graduates Jess Lippa, who produced the film, and Lui Bauer, who directed the film, BA (Hons) Animation graduate Rachel Fosbrook and MA Animation student Kamila Dudek who worked on the 2D and 3D animation, and MA Sound Design student Simon Bradley who was responsible for sound design.

Today (August 15), 80 years after the Second World War came to an end with the surrender of Japan, the new film premiered at IWM North, with public screenings taking place at various locations across the UK at 5pm. The film is also available to watch on the IWM website. 

Students were given full access to IWM’s archive to create an engaging piece exploring the events and significance of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific, told through the experiences of those who were there.  

The film was inspired by a recent survey commissioned by IWM that showed most respondents felt no connection to VJ Day and more than half of young people knew nothing about it. 

The team sensitively combined sound, photographs, and newly digitised film from IWM’s collection to create an artistic response which considers the momentous events that led to the culmination of the most devastating conflict in modern global history. 

August 1945: It Was Over Then allows the public to experience a snapshot of what life was like for people caught up in the war in Asia and the Pacific and reflect on this world-changing period in history. 

Speaking about bringing an important historical story to life, BA (Hons) Filmmaking graduate Bauer, said: “I’ve learned so much from working on this project with IWM. It was an absolute privilege to be given the opportunity to bring to life archival footage that hasn’t been shown before and tell such an important story”.

Reflecting on the collaboration with IWM, MA Animation student Dudek, said: “It was fantastic to work with a client on a live project and I’m grateful for the University giving students the opportunity to work with IWM. I learned so many new skills during the project and it was a learning curve to present the archival footage and tell the story of such an important moment in history in a sensitive but artistic way.”

Ahead of the film’s premiere, Filmmaking graduate Lippa, who produced the film, and Jenny Holt, Deputy Head of SODA, met with Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, at IWM North to talk about the new film that the team had created.

Mark Thomas, SODA Senior Lecturer in Filmmaking and project lead, said: “It’s been lovely to see the group come together across SODA BA and MA programmes in such a short timeframe and devise, create and deliver such a strong, considered outcome. For IWM to put so much trust in them and encourage their creative vision is so rewarding to see and kickstarts their journey as young, creative professionals perfectly. Looking forward to seeing what they do next!”

Professor Jill Griffiths, Head of SODA at Manchester Met, said: “It’s been brilliant to see our students and graduates come together to create a wonderful film that sensitively tells the story of such an important moment in history. We’re enormously grateful for the amazing opportunity and support IWM have given to our students who have developed invaluable skills that will no doubt carry them through their studies and their future careers after graduating.”

This latest collaboration follows on from a successful project earlier this year where SODA students worked with artist Chila Burman to create a new video work Disobey which features in the exhibition Chila Kumari Singh Burman: Chila Welcomes You currently on display at IWM North. 

August 1945: It Was Over Then will be screened at the following locations at 5pm today (August 15): The Screen @ Bournemouth One, Bradford Media Wall, The Screen @ Derby One, The Screen @ Glasgow Central, Liverpool Media Wall, Westfield London, Westfield Stratford City, Printworks, Manchester, The Screen @ Monument Newcastle, The Screen @ Norwich One, The Screen @ Nottingham One, The Totem @ West Quay (Inbound), Southampton, Media City UK, Salford. 

The full film August 1945: It Was Over Then can also be viewed on IWM’s website.