MA Filmmaking graduates bring short film to Cannes market

16 July 2026

Graduates of London Film Academy’s MA Filmmaking programme recently brought their short film Sesame Seed to the Cannes Film Market. Known also as the Marché du Film, the market is widely regarded as the largest of its kind in the world.

Director Tanguy Pichon and writer Asha Hannah-Chandler, both graduates of MA Filmmaking in 2025, made Sesame Seed as their final film project at LFA. The film follows a social media influencer who specialises in food content and explores the complex nature of eating disorders in the digital age.

Bringing their film to market

BTS of LFA graduates film taken to Cannes film festival

Tanguy and Asha, alongside other members of their LFA crew, brought their short film to the Short Films Corner of the Marché du Film. Their experience at the prestigious festival market in May proved as exciting as it was informative.

Tanguy shared:

The Short Film Corner is less of a traditional market and more of a meeting place for emerging filmmakers. We got to connect with a lot of interesting people, but what we found most valuable was everything happening outside the Palais: the meetings, the parties, the spontaneous conversations. Being in Cannes is fascinating because you meet people so unexpectedly, even outside of the festival itself, and that spontaneity was really exciting. That's where things really came alive for us.

Tanguy Pichon (LFA MA graduate)

Asha added that their experience at LFA helped them feel better prepared for taking this seismic next step in their filmmaking careers:

For me, this was my first time, and honestly, without LFA I wouldn't have had a film in Cannes at all, nor such a successful entry into the film industry. LFA created incredible opportunities and taught me some really important skills, like networking which is absolutely key at a festival like this. Without that foundation, I would have gotten so much less out of the experience.

Asha Hannah-Chandler (LFA MA graduate)

Tanguy’s previous experience being at Cannes helped prepare him for the chaotic environment and had instilled in him the right mindset for repping his work.

Tanguy explained:

I learnt to jump at every opportunity and to be spontaneous with my networking approach, you never know where a conversation might lead.

Tanguy Pichon (LFA MA graduate)

The festival itself

On the rare moments of free time they had between their screening and meetings relating to Sesame Seed, the LFA graduates did manage to see a couple of exciting new projects at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tanguy said:

I did manage to catch the new Pedro Almodóvar movie [Bitter Christmas], which I enjoyed, but beyond that with the meetings etc, there wasn't much time for anything else.

Tanguy Pichon (LFA MA graduate)

Asha added:

I saw two movies and walked the red carpet both times, the screenings were in the most beautiful movie theatre I’ve ever been in.

Asha Hannah-Chandler (LFA MA graduate)

The road ahead

LFA graduate film stills

Tanguy reflects on their experience at Cannes in May, outlining their expectations and how things turned out for the team:

It was a really interesting stay. Each of us went there with different goals, and I think we all came back having achieved what we set out to do, so that's a win. The screening itself got great feedback, which was really encouraging.

Tanguy Pichon (LFA MA graduate)

Tanguy, Asha, and the crew are now continuing their film festival strategy in the UK market, and the road ahead is exciting.

Asha concluded:

We've submitted to a few festivals, mostly national, and now it’s a case of waiting and keeping our fingers crossed.

Asha Hannah-Chandler (LFA MA graduate)

We at LFA would like to congratulate Tanguy, Asha, and the whole LFA crew behind Sesame Seed, not only on their recent experience at the Marché du Film but on their short itself, which is a mesmerising and affecting piece of work. We wish them every success as they continue their journey with the film.

Alumni