Osprey Short Film Awards 2016
Saturday 27th February 11am, The Alhambra
Free Entry
“I feel it's very important for those of us who are established in films to make sure that we put ourselves out to encourage the next link in the chain. It's not difficult to put oneself out and it was greatly enjoyable watching their films and sharing their pleasure at the awards.”

John Hurt
What Are The Osprey Short Film Awards?
Each year at the festival we celebrate local film making by showing a selection of short films. A panel of judges select the very best of these films and reward the talented film makers the prestigious Osprey awards.
2016 Films
This year eleven films were selected to screen at The Alhambra during the festival.. Impressively eight of these films were made by young filmmakers aged under 19.
The judges were very impressed by the high quality of the films, especially those from the younger independent film makers. Deciding on the winners was incredibly difficult and one vote separated four films for the audience award. It was a fantastic morning at the Alhambra, showing that film making talent is alive and well in Cumbria.
The prizes were presented by Rayna Campbell, director of Lapse Of Honour and an actress who has appeared in Waterloo Road, Scott and Bailey and played the title role in the award winning film Layla Fourie.
Had fun this morning giving out Osprey Awards to young filmmakers at The Keswick Film Festival in Cumbria. All the films were brilliant. So much amazing talent.
Posted by Rayna Campbell on Saturday, 27 February 2016
You can also find photos from the day on Facebook.
Young Category (Under 19)
Winner
Eleutheromania – an intense desire for freedom – an emotion we all feel to some extent, a wish for somewhere away from the normal hubbub of life. For some it lies in the past with memories they cling on to remembering; for some it is away in the future with a place, a destination, a state of mind they have not yet got to. For neither is it something here and now, present and tangible, and that is the definition of desire, to want something you either have never had or have no longer. The Eleutheromaniac and the Nostalgic is an evocative and personal exploration of this concept.
Audience Award
This tender short film is a coming of age story about a troubled teenager whose chance encounter with a kind stranger marks a turning point in his life. The film stars Niek Versteeg, rising young star of teen TV series Wolfblood. It also stars Alfred Hoffman as Hobie, who's successful career in film and TV includes feature film 'Caregiver'
This film was created as part of a 10-week long intense filmmaking course to 17 young people aged 16-19.
Highly Commended
Dearest Sarah is the product of the collaboration between Holy Family Primary School, Signal Film and local animator and artist Ellie Chaney. Based on a real life letter sent home from the trenches in WW1 from a soldier to his sweetheart, the stop frame animation is poignant and moving.
Peaceful windy Walney gets an unwanted visitor, it's the monstrous Beast of Walney taking residents from their homes and knocking cyclists off their bikes. Don't get in his way whatever you do! A mix of stop motion animation and live action fiction.
A short drama which attempts to look at misconceived stereotypes.All the young people who created this film are from Barrow and aged between 11-16.
A young girl who is struggling to fit in at school finds a different way of escaping her depression. The forest. This forest is special to her. She has her own space in the forest. She keeps going to this place after school or whenever she is feeling down.
This follow up to last year's award winning film explores three additional perceptions to show how different one situation can appear by applying different genres to make it more exciting.
Open Category
Winner
Following their Grandfather's funeral two sisters, Jackie and Alison, find it difficult to get to sleep.
Highly Commended
Don't Suffer in Silence is a short documentary that explores young people's personal experiences of bullying. The film was made by Unconventional Media Students as part of the NADT 12 Week Filmmaking Course based in Wigton.
A short documentary highlighting the work of Mountain Rescue, helping people and saving lives from mountain tops and moorland to flooded towns and villages. Mountain Rescue is made entirely of volunteers and can only exist with the help of public donations.
In a tiny projection room in West Cumbria, Kevan splices together the Wednesday matinee at Rosehill Theatre.
Prizes
A £200 prize was awarded to the winners of each age category as selected by the judges.
Showcase
2016
2015
2014
Filmmakers Network
As well as showcasing great short films we also hope the Ospreys will provide opportunities for film makers to meet each other and possibly collaborate on future projects. We have created a group on Facebook called the Osprey Filmmakers Network which we invite you to join if you have entered or film in the past of are thinking of doing so in the future, or perhaps you'd like to get involved in some other way.
Osprey Filmmakers Network: http://bit.ly/OspreysNet
Previous Winners
- 2015 Osprey Winners
- 2014 Osprey Winners
- 2013 Osprey Winners
- 2012 Osprey Winners
- 2011 Osprey Winners
- 2010 CSFA Winners
- 2009 CSFA Winners
Sponsors
If you'd like to sponsor the Osprey Short Film Awards or supply any prizes then please contact us.