UK Web Fest announced the winners of their first annual Screenings & Awards on Sunday, 25th October 2015

The launch day saw guests attend a full day of screenings at Prince Charles Cinema in Soho, London of the nominated web series' which were shortlisted from hundreds of entries. Shortlisted entries were judged by reputed industry insiders: Jett Garrison, Stefan Booth, Andre Des Rochers, Benjamin Johns and Julie Kalceff.

Monica Y.Dee, Founder of UK Web Fest said, “UK Web Fest is a creative and exciting event that provides support and recognition for web series' makers struggling to find a platform to showcase their work. Our mission is to create an event that is as inclusive and immersive as possible, allowing creators from diverse backgrounds to be given the opportunity to be seen and heard. We are delighted to have achieved this with our first annual event and share our independent spirit which has driven us to launch this innovative platform. We are confident that through the success of this launch, we will continue to welcome exceptional talent from the UK and beyond in successive years to come.”

Attendees engaged in discussion with an esteemed group of panel speakers who highlighted through their own experiences, the challenges content makers face and how to create opportunities to overcome them. This section was hosted by broadcast journalist, Louise Houghton who has previously worked with the BBC, Sky Sports, Channel 5 and is currently a presenter for London Live. The panel speakers were: Teresa Potocka, Founder & CEO of Potocki Communications / Layan Nourouz, Founder & Executive Producer of Nutty Squirrel Films / Christine Cheung, Founder & Producer of Tread Softly Productions / Raj Pathak, Director, Editor & Cameraman of FMR Productions and Akua Obeng-Frimpong, Head of Business Development at Zealous.

The Awards Ceremony saw guests welcomed to a drinks reception with a live musical performance from French singer and songwriter, Sonia Dali. Nine awards were distributed by industry insiders and included a special Industry Panel Award which donated a £500 gift to the winner. The winners are as follows:

Best UK Web Series - The First Musketeer

Most Promising UK Web Series - Wannabes

Best International Web Series - Low Life

The Industry Panel Award - Halsnøy

Best Production Web Series - 2020: The Series

Best Director - Adam Kosh - The Banks

Best Documentary Web Series - Zyara

Best Music Video - Fåån (Valsaland)

Best Animation Web Series - Daughter Of An Ocean

Festival partners include Zealous, a platform matching creative talent with opportunities. UK Web Fest worked with the team to give an upcoming designer the opportunity to create the first official invite and build their personal portfolio. The selected winner was Martyna Kramarcyzk who created an exceptional design and used her initiative to go above and beyond the brief given. Our official press partner, Web Séries Magazine and our brilliant food and drink sponsors, Propercorn, Vita Coco and Vivid Drinks.

Monica Y. Dee showcased an exclusive preview of her own personal project, Spectrum East (pilot); a web series she produced. The show follows the ups and downs of an extended group of friends as they negotiate dating, love and family under the all encompassing rainbow umbrella. Spectrum East will be launched in February 2016 and can be viewed on www.spectrumeastwebseries.com and YouTube.

Be Seen.Be Heard.Create.

About UK Web Fest
UK Web Fest is the only regional touring festival in the UK to focus on digital content, with the aim to showcase in all 69 cities across the UK and Northern Ireland. Every year the festival will arrive in new destinations to discover passionate storytellers and creatives, helping provide exposure to local talent who ordinarily would struggle to be seen by industry insiders. The festival encourages UK and International creatives to submit their work across a breadth of categories and donates 10% of it's submission fees to a local school to help with film equipment.

Photography by Paul Grace Events Photos

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