Returning for its 10th year, The INDIs Awards supports and celebrates the best of emerging UK film talent, from ages 15 all the way up to 25, and is sponsored by Leeds City College. From the comfort of your own home, put on your Oscars-worthy attire and join us at INDIs’ most prestigious awards night for young independent film talent, as our jury of industry professionals join forces to present the final winners in all three age categories, streamed LIVE on our channels.
This session will be streamed onto the INDIs Film Festival YouTube.
Host - Gage Oxley - Oxygen Films
Gage Oxley is predominantly a writer/director, as well as a freelance film programmer, and the managing director of Oxygen Films: a multi-award winning, non-profit, community-interest production company based in Leeds. Gage's role involves working with international charities, young creatives and LGBTQ* organisations around the world to create challenging motion pictures that facilitate and encourage open discussion on some of the most difficult aspects of a modern LGBTQ* community. Their latest feature film had its World Premiere in Leicester Square and US Premiere a stone’s throw away from the Hollywood Sign, and recently released a queer six-part hit anthology show, which reached over 8.4million households in its first year on Amazon Prime UK and US. Gage is also the current recipient of the first Virgin Money Change Makers Fellowship, awarded for their work as part of Oxygen Films.
Jury
Colm McAuliffe - Film Curator
Colm McAuliffe is a curator and writer. He has programmed films for a range of festivals and institutions nationally and internationally, with a specific focus on film in Leeds. He has produced archive-inspired films with Oscar nominated composer Mica Levi, worked extensively with television archive projects, and works on the award winning Make Film History project with Kingston University and the BBC. He has a PhD in intellectual history from Birkbeck, University of London and his writing has appeared in the Guardian, Sight & Sound, New Statesman, frieze, and many more.
Evelyn Griffiths - Film Festival Producer
Evelyn is an events programmer and producer based in London. Currently the Charity Director for Watersprite Film Festival, her work focuses on improving access to the screen industries and supporting and celebrating the most exciting emerging talent in film. Previously, she programmed and produced the BFI Future Film Festival, the London Film Festival Education programme, was a selector for the Human Rights Watch Film Festival and worked with Leeds Film way back when.
Arron Blake - Actor/Director
Arron, is known for creating unique and compelling stories through film. Starting off as an actor, Arron is now producing and directing his own work, including his debut short film His Hands (2019) which was nominated for Best Narrative Short at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival.
Martin Corner - Leeds City College
My name is Martin Corner and I have worked in further education since 2014 covering a wide range of roles and responsibilities. My focus is always on the student experience and I have developed a number of curriculums focusing in on this with various awarding bodies. What I love about my job is helping students with the creative process, developing ideas and watching what young people can produce.
Malikah Blake - Filmmaker
Malikah is a filmmaker from East London and an alumna of Ghetto Film School. She has experience working on short films spanning a variety of roles, one recent accolade being shortlisted for Chicago International Arthouse Film Fest for her work as a DOP. She has shot film in her home country of London, as well as producing a short in Los Angeles and assisting on shoots in Rome and Amsterdam.
Most recently, she has directed, ‘Mehndi’ and is currently seeing it through post-production.
Sponsors
Leeds City College
Ghetto Film School
Ghetto Film School (GFS) is an award-winning non-profit founded in 2000 to educate, develop and celebrate the next generation of great storytellers.
With locations in New York City, Los Angeles, and London, GFS equips students for top universities and careers in creative industries through two tracks: an introductory education program for students, ages 14-18 (Fellows Program), and early-career support for alumni and young professionals, 18-34 (Roster).
Since 2015, Roster has aided creatives by providing opportunities and resources needed to advance their careers. Winning directors will be admitted into our Roster programme and screened at our upcoming film festival across London, LA, and NY.
