Students at the University of Westminster have created a promotional film to celebrate London’s Hellenic Centre’s 30th anniversary. The team of students won the opportunity to produce the film after going head-to-head in a creative hackathon organised by the University, pitching their idea alongside their fellow students.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, London’s Hellenic Centre commissioned a short film from Westminster students to showcase the history, mission and ongoing impact of the organisation. The centre is a hub for artists, academics and professionals interested in classical and contemporary Greek culture.
Students from across Westminster’s School of Arts and School of Media and Communication competed for the commission in a hackathon, where they worked in teams to design a film pitch based on a brief delivered by the Hellenic Centre. The brief required students to creatively blend archival footage, historical documents and photographs with interviews or voiceovers to explore all aspects of the organisation, from its exhibitions and language courses to its role as a hub for Greek and Cypriot communities.
After developing their pitches, students presented their ideas to Hellenic Centre colleagues, practising for the real-life pitches they will deliver in their careers. The presentations were judged based on how they captured the heart of the centre’s mission of fostering cultural exchange and dialogue, while being engaging and accessible to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with its activities.
The winning pitch came from Film BA Honours student Callum Fernandes-Clarke and Creative Media Arts BA Honours students Hannah Blackwell and Eliana Folin, who went on to work closely with colleagues from the Hellenic Centre to produce the short film. The film is now being used by the centre for online promotion and future screenings.
In addition to the first-place prize of securing the commission, monetary prizes from Westminster's Ignite Fund were also up for grabs for the first, second and third place teams. For second-year students, the hackathon also could contribute to their Work-Based and Placement Learning modules, designed to provide Westminster students with a toolbox for career success.
Many similar work-based projects will take place at Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise which is due to open in Spring 2026. Zone29 provides students and graduates with access to work-related programmes, opportunities and experiences, connecting students from all backgrounds to industry professionals to build the confidence and networks they need to succeed.
Nayia Yiakoumaki, Director of the Hellenic Centre, said: “At the Hellenic Centre we are committed to creating opportunities for emerging creative practitioners. It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with such a talented team of film students. The result is a beautiful short film for the Centre, and equally importantly, an achievement the students can showcase in their portfolios.”
About the project Zak Peric, Senior Lecturer in Visual Effects and Director of Employability for the Westminster School of Art, added: “The hackathon project with the Hellenic Centre was an amazing opportunity for students from both schools to work in groups, strengthening their teamwork and communication skills. By collaborating, sharing ideas and problem-solving together, they developed practical skills such as time management and task organisation. At the same time, the project allowed them to hone their creative and craft skills, turning imaginative ideas into purposeful outcome.”
Westminster’s collaboration with the Hellenic Centre directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn about Media and Communication courses at the University of Westminster.
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