Lighthouse Young Creatives Success Stories

Our 2025/26 Lighthouse Young Creatives (LYC) programme kicked off recently, with a brand new cohort of talented young creatives. We’re so excited for their journey ahead over the next six months and have been reflecting on how far some of the young creatives have come that we’ve supported through our past programmes.

We’re thrilled to celebrate some recent successes of three of our LYC 2024/25 alumni  - Savannah Lovelidge, Jake Helliwell and Lillian Waddington were all involved in the production of the new short film Homegrown (2025) overseen by LYC Mentor Callum Johnston (Creative Director at CFI Media) and Lighthouse.

The film recently had its first public screening with a Q&A, a huge milestone for everyone involved. Each of these young creatives brought something special to the project & is already carving out an exciting creative path of their own:

Sav is heading to Brighton MET to study Film, taking the next step in developing her voice as a filmmaker and storyteller.

Jake has landed an acting role in Callum’s upcoming film Romeo Hotel 11.

Lillian has been busy on the production side, collaborating with Callum on several projects and currently developing her own short film. She’s also just secured a full time job with a London based arts organisation.

Callum led the workshops that enabled our Young Creatives to learn essential techniques in scriptwriting, acting and producing. This is exactly the kind of pathway we aim to provide at Lighthouse. By linking creative ambition with professional-industry collaborations, our Young Creatives build skills, networks and confidence to take meaningful next steps in their creative careers.

He said of their success “When I was starting out, opportunities in film were hard to come by, especially coming from a lower social class background where filmmaking was seen as an expensive hobby. Through persistence, collaboration, and years of self-learning, I built a career in the industry, always hoping to one day help others do the same.

Mentoring on the Lighthouse Young Creatives programme has allowed that dream to become reality. I’m incredibly proud of Lillian, Sav, and Jake for their work on Homegrown, a powerful and timely film that reflects their talent, courage, and creativity.”

We can’t wait to see what they do next, and we’ll be front row at Homegrown’s screening as part of CINECITY, at Fabrica on 10 November 5.30PM- 7.30PM. Three longer length shorts will be shown including Homegrown.

Come along, support young voices in film, and be the first to experience original productions on the big screen. Grab your tickets here 

About Homegrown (2025)

A grieving young man, torn by loss and seeking belonging, finds himself drawn into a dangerous world of manipulation and hate - one that threatens to consume him entirely.

DIR: SAVANNAH LOVELIDGE. 24 MINS.

*Has extremist, anti-immigrant and far-right language that many will find offensive.

Watch the trailer below and check out photos taken during the recent screening, the behind the scenes of the filming process as well as stills from the film.

Savannah Lovelidge

Savannah Lovelidge (Sav), a writer with a background in comedy and character-driven storytelling, has used their time at LYC to explore new narrative techniques and plot-focused filmmaking with the group. Inspired by dreams, folk music, and unusual occurrences, their work aims to bring unique and compelling personalities to life on screen. @satnavvvv

Jake Helliwell

Jake Helliwell is a filmmaker with experience across multiple behind-the-camera roles, from sound to lighting. Passionate about storytelling and education, he brings his expertise to Homegrown (2025) in front of the camera, acting as the film’s lead, Kyle. @Jakee_Helliwell

Lillian Waddington

Producer and assistant director Lillian Waddington brings her experience in theatre direction to the short film, overseeing everything from costume design, script and location scouting. Inspired by how people express themselves naturally, she translates this interest into work that explores themes of female independence, empowerment, and sexuality while experimenting with sound and movement. @lillian.wadd

CFI MEDIA

CFI MEDIA prides themselves on being an excellent film production company dedicated to bringing your vision to life. Their team of skilled professionals is equipped with diverse talent that covers the entire production process, from concept development to final editing and distribution. CFI MEDIA are committed to delivering high-quality content that resonates with audiences.
www.cfimedia.org |  @cfimedia