University of Brighton graduate stars at groundbreaking international women's film festival

Alice Giraudi’s short film, entitled Il Giardino, takes a documentary look at Italian chef Maria Zingarelli as she sets about opening her own vegetarian restaurant – in a part of Italy famed for its meat...

Her International Film Festival celebrates and promotes young women in the film industry – by bringing female film-makers to a greater audience, and building a community of women making movies across the world. Entrants in the festival are aged between 10-25, and young women play a central role in every production entered.

Alice Giraudi and film crew

Alice's film was created while she was studying Digital Film BA(Hons) at the University of Brighton. “I was really proud of what my crew and I managed to accomplish with the resources we had,” Alice says. “Being recognised by a film festival through an award proved to me that I accomplished more than just receiving a good grade - but that I had gone beyond that and made a film that was very meaningful for me, and others too.”

As well as delving her subject's philosophy, Alice's film reveals the obstacles Maria faced as a single mother, female chef and entrepreneur. Her documentary also highlights the work of an agricultural cooperative Maria works with in Italy, seeking to create a circular economy with the food producers that supply her restaurant.

Being featured at Her International Film Festival was particularly significant for Alice: “The festival focuses on celebrating young female directors, so it was an amazing opportunity to be a part of”.

Study in Brighton - and beyond

“I am really grateful for the opportunities I have had throughout my time here,” Alice says.

“From the support to follow my passions and interests, to be able to explore and discover new ways of looking at the world, to the great work experience opportunities I had. I was really lucky to have very talented people on my course - my film would never have got to the level it is at without them.”

Since winning the prize, Alice has been accepted on a Masters programme that will create a bridge between her passions of film and food, studying at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. Now moved back to her home city of Turin, Alice is also busy working on an art archive. But she intends to keep working with Maria, including starting an Instagram account to showcase the people she works with and her efforts to improve the world through food. “After my Masters programme, I hope to be able to combine film and food studies in my future work, Alice says. “I would love to work in areas such as journalism, documentary-making, creating online content and advertising. While I really enjoyed directing my own project, I would love to work within other sections of film-making...in the future.”

Watch Alice’s film - Il Giardino