A Boston-born man has been honoured in an international student film awards progamme – one staged by the same body as the Oscars.

Jason Elliott, 29, was among the winners at this year’s Student Academy Awards, held in Canada on Monday (September 14) as part of the Toronto International Film Festival.

The event is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Each year, film students from across the world submit pieces for consideration across a number of categories.

Taken together, past winners have gone on to receive 70 Oscar nominations and 15 Oscar wins. They include the likes of Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Inside Out), Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump), and Spike Lee (Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X).

NFTS graduate Jason Elliott with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer at the Student Academy Awards.

placeholder image — NFTS graduate Jason Elliott with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer at the Student Academy Awards.

Jason, a former Boston West pupil, was honoured as a 2026 graduate of the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS), where he took a masters in Directing and Producing Science and Natural History.

Out of 2,972 entries from 894 colleges and universities worldwide, just 12 films were honoured at the awards, receiving a Gold, Silver or Bronze placement.

Jason was recognised in the documentary category for his graduate film, I Want to Live, receiving the Silver placement.

Talking to the Standard, he said: “My interest in filmmaking came from my Nan, who was a photographic developer in the Second World War, living in London during the Blitz. She was a great storyteller, keeping long car journeys when I was a child incredibly interesting and captivating as she reminisced on her younger years growing up.”

Jason filming in Ecuador for I Want to Live. "I visited the Ikiam University in Ecuador, witnessing first-hand the leading scientific research in a race to find a possible solution to antimicrobial resistance before it’s too late, working alongside Carolina Proaño Bolaños to capture her research processes."

Another step on the path was taken at Old Leake’s Giles Academy.

“I had an inspiring science teacher, Andrew Castley, who had an appreciation for science, understanding and teaching,” he said.

One project overseen by Mr Castley was to send an iPhone into space, Jason said, allowing pupils to learn about astrology and meteorology from data collected from the weather balloon. Jason was responsible for filming and capturing this project.

He described it as his ‘first taste at documentary filmmaking’.

Jason with (from left) his partner Mia, composers Aizhana Nurkenova and Katrina Rose, and colourist Scott.

After leaving school, Jason studied Media Production at the University of Lincoln, then worked across the county, filming and editing community projects and live events for five years, before applying to the NFTS in 2023.

Jason’s graduate film, I Want to Live, tells the story of Mallory Smith, an American woman who lived with cystic fibrosis. The piece draws on her diaries published by her family following her death, aged 25.

The film explores not only Mallory’s extraordinary life, but also the growing threat that climate change poses to healthcare, particularly through rising antibiotic resistance or ‘superbugs’.

Ahead of the ceremony, Jason knew he had already won a prize, but did not know the placement.

Speaking of this achievement, he said: “Out of 2,972 entries from 894 colleges and universities, to be a winner in this year’s Student Academy Awards is an honour and a testament to each and every person involved in this story.

“Right from conception to completion, working with such a brilliant mix of passionate people has been an unforgettable experience, fighting for change in the world of medicine and keeping the fires of Mallory Smith’s life burning bright.”

Peter Leonard, head of the NFTS Science and Natural History MFA, said: “We're incredibly proud of Jason and the whole team behind I Want to Live.

“It’s a powerful and deeply moving film that shows how science and natural history filmmaking can bring urgent global issues to life through compelling human stories.

“For aspiring filmmakers who want to tell stories that inform, inspire and make a difference, the NFTS is an incredible place to develop the skills, confidence and creative voice to do just that.”

The NFTS says for anyone interested in following in Jason’s footsteps, applications are now open for the Directing Science and Natural History MFA at the NFTS https://nfts.co.uk/directing-and-producing-science-and-natural-history.

It notes it is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances, saying full details of the scholarships and funding are available at https://nfts.co.uk/scholarships-and-funding.