Two filmmakers have shared the inaugural Northern Film Prize, launched to recognise short films which capture the heart and spirit of the North East.
The winners were announced at this weekend's first ever Alnwick Story Fest and judges included Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves assistant director Thomas Bentley, playwright Michael Chaplin, and the Northumberland author who launched the prize, LJ Ross.
The theme for this year’s edition of the prize was ‘transformation’ and entrants, none of whom were employed in a full-time capacity as filmmakers, were required to submit one short film of no longer than ten minutes.
Andy Berriman, a film and theatre director from Stockton-on-Tees, won the Professional Filmmakers Award alongside writer Alex Oates; and Frank Berry, a Yorkshire-based writer-director who graduated from the Northern Film School, was awarded the Amateur Filmmakers Award.
Andy Berriman and Alex Oates’ short film Mortal was shot in Cambois, near Blyth. The film follows longstanding alcoholic Trevor as he returns to the working men’s club he once frequented with his brother to reminisce on the past. In a joint statement, the Andy and Alex said: “We’re thrilled to have won the inaugural Northern Film Prize.
"We set out to put our beautiful and idiosyncratic region on screen and to be acknowledged in this way is hugely encouraging. Thank you to Alnwick Storyfest and, of course, LJ Ross for having us."
Frank Berry’s dystopian short film Glaciers tells the tale of a father and son on a remote family farm as they struggle to protect their livelihood, and relationship, from the devastating effects of climate change. Frank said: "It is an honour to win the Northern Film Prize with Glaciers.
"Events such as this are invaluable in showcasing all that the North has to offer the film industry, and what better place to do this, than the incredible Alnwick Castle? Long may it continue."
The two winning films were screened at a special event hosted by Alnwick Castle as part of Alnwick StoryFest on Saturday 25 February, where the winners each took home a cash prize of £1,000. Launched in collaboration with the Alnwick Storyfest, the prize was founded and sponsored by bestselling author LJ Ross through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies and stands alongside the Northern Photography Prize and the Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction.
LJ Ross said: "I launched this prize for a number of reasons – to offer financial support to filmmakers, but also to help build and maintain confidence among new, emerging and established filmmakers whose work celebrates our region. The organisers and judges were overwhelmed by the response and the amount of quality submissions, which certainly highlights the region’s rich, creative edge and further establishes its reputation as a centre for filmmaking excellence."
What is your favourite film set or made in the North East? Let us know!
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