Award Winners

The Underwire awards are given in recognition of the teamwork and skill necessary to produce a quality film, and aims to acknowledge the artistry and vision required in the key production roles.

These awards are open to films with women working in the specific category, and we accept a mix of genres: drama, animation, documentary, music video and artist film.

2016

Best Actor Award (sponsored by Spotlight)

Winner: Ciara Gallagher in Little Doll

XX Award: Best Female Representation (sponsored by BFI NET.WORK)

Winner: Oh-Be-Joyful directed by Susan Jacobson

Best Writer Award (sponsored by Euroscript)

Winner: Jojo Erholtz for Daydream

Best Cinematographer Award (sponsored by Greenkit)

Winner: Rina Yang for Lost Youth

Best Under 25 Award (sponsored by BFI Future Film)

Winner: Megan K. Fox for Girl

Best Sound Designer Award (sponsored by Sound Disposition)

Winner: Morgan Muse for Iktsuarpok

Best Composer Award (sponsored by Musicians’ Union)

Winner: Justine Barker for Dawn

Best Editor Award (sponsored by Molinaire Hoxton)

Winner: Anna Dick for We Love Moses

Highly Commended: Bonnie Rae Brickman for BOOTWMN

Best Director Award (sponsored by Directors UK)

Winner: Eva Sigurdardottir for Rainbow Party

Best Producer Award (sponsored by Women in Film & TV (UK))

Winner: Loran Dunn for Marina & Adrienne

Best Animator Award (sponsored by Blue Zoo)

Winner: Terri Matthews for The Wrong End of the Stick

Best Production Designer (sponsored by Farley Prop Hire)

Winner: Antonia Lowe for Dust and Resin

2015

Best Actor Award (sponsored by Casting Call Pro)

Winner: Olivia Morgan in Murmur

XX Award: Best Female Representation (sponsored by Screen International

Winner: Offside by Jimmy Dean

Best Writer Award (sponsored by Euroscript)

Winner: Gillian Park for Flotsam

Best Cinematographer Award (sponsored by Greenkit)

Winner: Kate Reid for Nazi Boots

Best Under 25 Award (sponsored by BFI Future Film)

Winner: Hannah Ford for Terry’s Last Intern

Best Sound Designer Award (sponsored by Sound Disposition)

Winner: Lise-Marie McStay

Best Composer Award (sponsored by Musicians’ Union)

Winner: Josephine Stephenson for Emma Change the Locks

Best Editor Award (sponsored by VET)

Winner: Manuela Lupini for Satan has a Bushy Tail

Highly Commended: Bonnie Rae Brickman for BOOTWMN

Best Director Award (sponsored by Directors UK)

Winner: Carlota Castells Puig for Història d’un Objecte/Story of an Object

Best Producer Award (sponsored by Women in Film & TV (UK))

Winner: Ruth Wright for Strings

Highly commended: Meghna Gupta & Helen Mullane for Nasty, and Raihana Ferdous and Meghna Gupta for Off The Grid

Lens Flair Prize: in recognition of the importance that women are given access to the means of production (sponsored by Feral Equipment)

The Under 25 winner Hannah Ford receives a 50% equipment hire discount

Best Director Carlota Castells Puig, Best Producer Ruth Wright and XX Award Winner Jimmy Dean each receive a 30% discount on equipment hire

Tommy Vine Fund Script Competition

Winner: Hannah Khalil for The Record

2014

Best Director (supported by Directors UK)

Tracks – Claire Oakley

Best Producer (supported by Women in Film and Television UK)

He Took His Skin Off For Me – Fiona Lamptey

Best Writer (supported by Euroscript)

Caravan 9 – Annie Power

Best Cinematographer (supported by Greenkit)

The Treehouse – Gabi Norland

Best Editor (supported by VET)

Opponent – Charlotte Ginsborg

Best Composer (supported by Imagem)

James – Isobel Waller-Bridge

Best Actor (supported by Daniella Cesarei Photography)

The Pig Child – Catherine Steadman

Best Under-25 (supported by BFI Future Film)

The Bigger Picture – Director, Daisy Jacobs

Best Sound Designer (supported by Sound Disposition)

Skinship – Ania Przygoda

XX Award (supported by Screen International)

A Moment to Move – Georgia Parris

2013

All winners received a beautifully crafted filmmaker medal made by the lovely Sarah Julia Clark.

Directing – The Trip – Prano Bailey Bond
Our Best Director will receive a membership to Directors UK as well as a 1-2-1 mentoring meeting with Directors UK board member and prolific director Philippa Collie Cousins.

Composing – Stay the Same – Fraya Thomsen
Our Best Composer will be introduced to Imagem‘s Synchronisation Manager for Film, and together they will arrange a series of meetings with a top film music supervisor discussing composition & scoring, advertising, film budgets, cutting to picture and industry trends and needs. Included in this will be a run through of in production projects and a meeting with a major film company.

Editing – Spine – Angela Feeney
Our Best Editor will receive £500 of suite time and/or training from VET.

Cinematography – Jonah – Chloe Thomson
Our Best Cinematographer will is invited to a series of networking drinks with Sara Putt Associates and 6 months access to Sara Putt Associates production chase lists.

XX – Morning – Cathy Brady
The winner of our XX Award will receive a consultation with the Film Festival Doctor to advise on getting more exposure for the film.

Producing – Grace – Emily Blickem
Our Best Producer will have a 1-2-1 lunch arranged for them by Women in Film and Television (UK) with a top industry producer. The winner will also receive an annual Membership to WFTV (UK) which gives them access to a range of benefits including a year round programme of events.

Screenwriting – Father – Moira Buffini
Our Best Writer will receive 1 years free access to Euroscript courses.

Sound Design – Robomax – Ting Li Lim
Our Best Sound Designer will receive a day in the studio with Sound Disposition

Acting – Woodland – Shannon Tarbet
Our Best Actor will receive a new headshot portfolio shot by award-winning editorial and commercial photographer, Daniella Cesarei.

Best female practitioner aged 15-25 – Ceara McEvoy
Our Best u-25 Talent Award is supported by BFI Future Film. Our winner wil receive a BFI membership, free tickets to the Future Film Festival in February 2014 and a BFI goodie bag.

2012

All winners received one-year’s membership to Women in Film and Television (WFTV) and a beautifully crafted filmmaker brooch made by the lovely Sarah Julia Clark.

Directing – Belly – Julia Pott
Our Best Director will receive a membership to Directors UK as well as a 1-2-1 mentoring meeting with Directors UK board member and prolific director Delyth Thomas.

Composing – Glitter and Storm – Susan Stenger
Our Best Composer will be introduced to Imagem‘s Synchronisation Manager for Film, and together they will arrange a series of meetings with a top film music supervisor discussing composition & scoring, advertising, film budgets, cutting to picture and industry trends and needs. Included in this will be a run through of in production projects and a meeting with a major film company.

Editing – Unraveled – Prano Bailey Bond
Our Best Editor will receive £500 of suite time and/or training from VET.

Cinematography – A Cuillin Rising – Taina Galis
Our Best Cinematographer will is invited to a networking Dinner with Sara Putt Associates where she will be able to network with 15-20 industry professionals, and 6 months access to Sara Putt Associates production chase lists.

XX – On Another Note – Emma Dove
The winner of our XX Award will receive support from UnderWire on getting more exposure for the film year round.

Producing – Fifty – Rebecca Watkins
Our Best Producer will have a 1-2-1 posh nosh lunch arranged for them by Women in Film and Television with a top industry producer

Screenwriting – Pitfall – Francesca Fowler
Our Best Writer will receive 1 years free access to Euroscript courses.

Sound Design – Storm House – Claudia Casasola & Victoria Prentice
Our Best Sound Designer will receive a day in the studio with out post sound and on going remote mentoring for six months.

Acting – Passengers – Isla Ure
Our Best Actor will receive a new headshot portfolio shot by award-winning editorial and commercial photographer, Daniella Cesarei. In association with Light Gallery London with hair and makeup by Debbie Storey.

Best female practitioner aged 15-25 – Lucy Luscombe
Our Best u-25 Talent Award is supported by BFI Future Film. Our winner wil receive a BFI membership, free tickets to the Future Film Festival in February 2013 and a BFI goodie bag.

The UnderWire and Sight & Sound competition for women film reporters is now open until 5th April.

2011

All winners received one-year’s membership to Women in Film and Television (WFTV) and a super sexy bespoke Tatty Devine necklace.

Directing – Our Ordered Lives – Christine Entwisle
Christine wins a years membership with Directors UK.

Composing – First Bite – Victoria Wijeratne
Victoria will be invited to a series of meetings with a top film music supervisor at Imagem, discussing composition & scoring, advertising, film budgets, cutting to picture and industry trends and needs. Included in this will be a run through of projects in production and a meeting with a major film company.

Editing – Himalayan Sisters – Ling Lee for
Ling wins £500 worth of training support from VET Post-Production & Training.

Cinematography – House – Annika Summerson
Annika wins 5 rolls of 16mm film stock from Kodak for her next project.

XX – Nocturn – Leanne Welham

Producing – Nocturn – Rosie Crerar
Women in Film and Television UK will treat Rosie to lunch with a top film producer.

Screenwriting – Morning Echo – Hope Dickson Leach
Hope wins a years worth of evening and weekend courses with Euroscript.

Film Journalist winners Jo Shaw (now working with Electric Sheep), Clare Pennington (now working with The Quietus), Kamakshi Tiwary (now working with Little White Lies) and Caroline Cooks-Burns (now working with Aesthetica)

2010

All winners received one-year’s membership to Women in Film and Television (WFTV)

Representation – Knock Off
The team behind Knock Off receive a one-year subscription to independent film magazine, Little White Lies

Editing – Skateistan – Peta Ridley
Peta receives £500 of training and support from post-production house VET

Cinematography – Sis – Gabi Norland
Gabi receives 5 x 400ft of 16mm film stock from Kodak

Screenwriting – Mother, Mine – Susan Everett
Susan receives one year’s worth of bespoke script development from Euroscript

Producing – Pussy – Debbie Howard
Debbie receives one-year of mentoring from Producer Christine Hartland, supported by WFTV