Bournemouth University graduates are celebrating after winning an Oscar last night.

Graduates from the university worked on the visual effects for Ex Machina, which picked up the Academy Award for Visual Effects.

And Mark Ardington, one of the people who collected the award on stage, is also a BU graduate.

It was a good night for the university, which had graduates working on Inside Out, which won the Oscar for Animated Feature, and Mad Max: Fury Road, which picked up four.

Prior to the ceremony, senior lecturer Sofronis Efstathiou said: “Every year when the Oscars nominees are announced we get to celebrate those BU graduates who have worked on many of the films nominated.

“Even this year it is great to be able to say that work completed by BU graduates has directly contributed to Oscar and BAFTA nominated films.

“We are so proud of all graduates who go on to have successful careers in the visual effects and animation industries and will keep our fingers crossed that BU graduates can win further accolades again this year.”

Mark Ardington graduated from BA (Hons) Computer Visualisation & Animation in 1997.

Mark's success follows that of another BU graduate Andrew Lockley, who won Oscars in 2011 and 2015 for his work on Inception and Interstellar respectively.

 

Phil Spicer, Programme Leader for MA Digital Effects, teaches visual effects skills to BU students and said, "We are very proud of Bournemouth University graduates who have forged careers in the Visual Effects Industry.

"Every year at this time, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate the success of graduates who have worked on Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning films.

"This year is no different as a number of these films have been worked on by BU graduates. Big congratulations are due to all of our graduates who have been involved in Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning films this year.

"Their talent and hard work is astounding, and it is a privilege for us to have helped shape and mould their futures in this way."

BU graduates have also worked on the latest in the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens, which was also nominated in the Best Visual Effects category among others.

Other films that can boast BU involvement include The Martian and The Revenant.

BU graduates are also celebrating wins at other ceremonies too, as BU animation alum Paul Kavanagh recently picked up the Best Special Visual Effects BAFTA for his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Bournemouth University graduates have been involved in films such as Avatar, The Lego Movie and the Harry Potter franchise.

 

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