Written by Awais Fareed

At the Warwick Film and TV annual Christmas party, we received sixty completed ballot forms. The results have been tallied and counted. You, our trusted and deeply knowledgeable Warwick Film and TV department, have decided the winners of the best recent film by an old director and best recent film by a debut director poll. But before we disclose the winning features, let us discuss the runner-up films.

Without further ado, at number ten, we have Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, the 2024 thriller Woman of the Hour. This film was a pleasant surprise for me, already showcasing Kendrick’s interesting and gripping directorial style in a film that I believed would be another run-of-the-mill Netflix original. I still think about how tense the car park scene was. At number nine, we have James Cameron’s deeply anticipated 2022 sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water. Being transported back to Pandora was amazing, and watching the film in 3D may be one of my favourite cinematic experiences. No other director will ever be able to match James Cameron’s blockbuster prowess: bring on Avatar 3,4,5…

At number eight, we have Ana Lily Amirpour’s 2014 vampire Horror Western, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. The film has now also been adapted into a graphic novel series, of which I am also a huge fan. I still haven’t seen a film that feels like this one; it’s so unique. At number seven, we have Celine Song’s 2023 Drama film, Past Lives. It’s hard to believe that such a beautiful, assured and poignant film is only Celine Song’s first feature film. I’m excited to see where she goes from this, bring on Materialists!!

At number six, we have David Lynch’s eagerly anticipated and deeply beloved Twin Peaks: The Return (2017). This is something that, in my (biased) opinion, I think should be even higher than it is. Fire Walk with Me is still my favourite Lynch, but The Return is something that I believe unequivocally to be his magnum opus as well as being one of the most incredible pieces of media ever (and I’m not one for hyperbole.) At number five, we have Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation of West Side Story. I am beyond thrilled to see this film here and so high as it is by far my favourite musical of this decade as well as one of my all-time favourites. I love how this film came to being because Spielberg wanted to try his hand at directing a musical. From the cinematography (puddle reflection scene) to the colour and the performances, especially from Rachel Zegler, everything is breathtaking.

At number four, we have George Miller revisiting Mad Max in Mad Max: Fury Road (2016). A truly remarkable feat, Fury Road feels so all-encompassing, so unique and is always such an experience to sit through. The colours, the visual effects, and the sounds all aid in this wonderful spectacle that, at least for me, manages to surpass the original films in almost every possible way. At number three, we have Charlotte Wells’s heartbreaking feature film debut, Aftersun (2022). This is a film that has resonated with so many people and is so painfully beautiful, with some of the most gut-wrenching shots I have ever seen. Frankie Corio is phenomenal, and it was incredible to see Paul Mescal go from Normal People to this.

Now is the moment we have all been waiting for. It’s time to announce the two winning films of the old vs new film ballot respectively (drum roll please…)

At number two and the winner of the Warwick Film and TV Department favourite new film directed by a seasoned director is… Martin Scorsese’s 2023 historical drama Killers of The Flower Moon. I am thrilled to see this film as the winner of the old section of old vs new as it is personally one of my favourite Scorsese films. Lily Gladstone’s performance is up there as one of the best of the century for me as well, and I still wholeheartedly believe that the Oscar should have been hers, even if I do love Emma Stone as much as anybody else. I feel like this film did not drag even once in its three-hour runtime and is just so amazingly well done. Centring the members of the Osage Nation through Molly instead of the original idea of focusing on the white colonisers was truly the best decision.

Now it is finally time to announce the winner of the Warwick Film and TV Department’s favourite old vs new film/TV show. The winner and thus the best film directed by a new/old director is… Jordan Peele’s directorial feature film debut, Get Out (2017). There we have it, the winner, chosen by our film and TV department. What a great choice it is, too. Get Out, with the amazing performance of Daniel Kaluuya and the creepily eerie performance of Allison Williams,perfectly explains why Jordan Peele is such a huge name in modern horror. It blends social commentary with stomach-churning horror and plot twists to deliver a captivating film. Get Out is a modern classic that you can rewatch infinitely and notice something brand new every time.

There we have it; the results have been announced, and the winner has been decided. It looks like the new has won in the ever-pressing conversation of the old director vs the new director, at least this time.