BCG Pro Talent Awards: Production 2022 results

Friday 7th October 2022, 10:29am

Director of photography Matt Riley has won the BCG Pro Talent Awards: Production
Meanwhile Katherine Press won in the Starter category, for her first short film as writer/director
Josh Cluderay, Varun Raman & Tom Hancock, Alice Gardiner, Ben King, Liam Taylor and Jack Trowbridge were shortlisted

Results have been revealed for BCG Pro's 2022 Talent Awards for Production.

Now in their third year, BCG Pro's Talent Awards recognise and champion emerging comedy talent. Operating both Starter and Pro entry levels, the Production competition aims to highlight off-screen talent, in roles such as directing, producing, editing and other creative leads.

Winner: Matt Riley

Riley recently worked as the director of photography, and in various other capacities, on Poppy, a web series written by and starring Poppy Hillstead. Here is Episode 1:

Speaking about his work on the show, Riley explains: "I worked with Poppy to develop a web series that we could make on a very tight budget. Advising at the script stage, producing, finding and securing locations, scheduling, sourcing kit and crew as needed. I handled how we shot the project as Poppy was on camera the whole time, and then worked with the Poppy and the editor in post to finish everything. It was a real passion project!"

On being told he'd won, Matt said: "Winning the Production award is an absolute dream - can't believe my luck. I'd love to be shooting comedy for a job when I grow up, so this feels like a real step in the right direction. I've got to thank Poppy for actually responding to my unsolicited DMs to kick things off, and everyone who got involved for taking a punt on our little web series."

Starter Winner: Katherine Press

The short film Help! I've Stolen Amy Adams' Nose! won Katherine Press first place in the Starter category. Below is a clip from her project:

She says: "I'm an actress turned filmmaker, and this is my first film as writer/director (in addition to actor/producer/editor/costume designer!). It was filmed in summer 2021, under Covid restrictions, for under £500 (to cover insurance & expenses). To my amazement, it won Best Comedy at its first festival, Best Low Budget Film at its second, and went on to win the Audience Choice Award at Exit 6 Film Festival. The fact that people are enjoying watching this mad thing I made is the most incredible feeling. And now I find that it's got the BCG seal of approval too?! Unbelievable. Mind you, I've got four other loony projects on their way, about things like Monopoly, marshmallows and pasta, so it's just as well people didn't hate the first one..."

BCG Pro will arrange mentoring and opportunities for both winners.

This year's judging panel comprised of five industry figures at the top of their fields: Sky Studios producer Adnan Ahmed; Sky Studios development producer Jarrod Ball; producer Claire Broughton, who is head of podcasts at Hat Trick Productions; Yellow Door Productions founder Lucy Lumsden; and Mark Wynter, from leading post production facility The Farm.

The following creators were also shortlisted: