Published on: 30 October 2024 in Events

Directors UK at 2024 Film the House Awards

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This week, Directors UK attended a ceremony at the House of Lords to celebrate the winners of the annual Film the House Awards, and to present the Directors UK Award for Best Film Direction. 

Directors UK Board chair Karen Kelly presented Cass Virdee with the Directors UK Award for Best Film Direction, for her film Realness with a Twist.

Directors UK Board chair Karen Kelly presents Cass Virdee with the Directors UK Award for Best Film Direction. Photo credit Adrian Pope.
Directors UK Board chair Karen Kelly presents Cass Virdee with the Directors UK Award for Best Film Direction. Photo credit Adrian Pope.

As well as being a fantastic way to celebrate filmmaking talent, Film the House also allows our team and Board to make the case for directors’ copyright and IP directly to lawmakers and decision-makers.

Presenting the award, Karen Kelly said: “Most directors are freelance. These royalty payments are a key part of how they earn their living – whether they’re directing your favourite soap, quiz show, documentary or drama series. This income has never been more important than over the last year when over 50% of our members have been out of work due to the downturn in commissioning and the seismic shift in the broadcasting landscape... We need to work together to ensure a strong IP system which will secure the future of the UK’s creative talent, such as these directors we are celebrating today.” 

The parliamentary sponsors of this year’s competition were Lord Clement-Jones, Baroness Bonham-Carter and RT Hon Sir John Wittingdale MP, and the event was attended by several legislators with briefs in Intellectual Property, Culture and the Arts.

Other winners on the night included Cathy Wippell, who took home the award for Best Film Script with Black Samphire, and Davy Lazare who won for Best Short Film with You Fit the Description. Cathy Wippell’s film Black Samphire was Specially Commended in the Best Short Film category.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees. 

Find out more about Film the House.

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