A number of prestigious industry bodies have announced their awards shortlist with Liverpool’s acting talent and productions filmed in the city, leading the way.
Royal Television Society (RTS) North West, British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and the Rose d’Or Awards have gone public with their selections, and two dramas made possible by the Liverpool City Region Production Fund – Help(Channel 4) and Time (BBC Studios/BBC) – have the awards spotlight on them.
RTS shortlist includes two top award nominations for productions supported by Liverpool Film Office’s Liverpool City Region (LCR) Production Fund. Jimmy McGovern’s Time is nominated for Best Drama Series, and CBBC’s So Awkward (Channel X/CBBC) is nominated for Best Comedy Programme.
Jimmy, already a RTS Lifetime Achievement award winner, has received a double nomination as Best Script Writer for Anthony (LA Productions for BBC) and Time (BBC Studios for BBC).
Time, which was filmed in Liverpool, also bags lead actor Sean Bean a nomination for RTS North West’s Best Performance in a Drama, as well as Best Director for Lewis Arnold and Best Editing for Sacha Szwarc in RTS Craft & Design Awards.
Liverpool-based Lime Pictures lead with five nominations including two in Best Continuing Drama Storyline, one in Best Digital Creativity, and two Best Performances in a Continuing Drama (Jessica Fox, Kelle Bryan), all for their landmark Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks.
Best Single Drama winner will be announced at the RTS Northwest Awards Ceremony, and it’s hoped Channel 4’s care home COVID-19 drama Help, starring Scousers Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham will secure the win.
Well-respected accolades, the Rose d’Or Awards, have selected both Help and Time in their Drama category.
Meanwhile, on the big screen, hot new director, Huyton-born Philip Barantini leads the BIFA announcement with 11 nominations for single-take chef thriller Boiling Point, starring Stephen Graham. Barantini is nominated for Best Director, Stephen Graham is nominated for Best Actor and Boiling Point is nominated for Best British Independent Film.
Acclaimed Liverpool screenwriter/Director, Terence Davies is also nominated for Best Screenplay for new film Benediction.
Liverpool Film Office is also joining the city’s screen celebrations as a finalist in the Makers & Shakers Awards 2021 for Film Commission Initiative of the Year.
Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle:
“The Production Fund has been a real game-changer in terms of job creation and skills development and I’d like to thanks Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for its continued support.
“The fund along with the recent opening of The Depot has made Liverpool even more of a tempting and viable filming location. So, it’s exciting to see that all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes in terms of attracting production companies here and then facilitating the filming has paid off with this industry recognition.
“It’s great that so many local productions and talent up for awards and I hope the city sweeps the boards when the winners are announced.”
Head of Liverpool Film Office, Lynn Saunders:
“It’s fantastic to see the region’s film and TV industry get the recognition it deserves.
“It is no surprise to me that so many of the nominations have Liverpool at their heart – the quality of productions being made here increases year-on-year and we are so lucky to be a creative hotbed which allows talent like Jimmy McGovern, Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham to thrive.
“What makes it even more special is that our Production Fund made Time and Help a reality – being able to encourage more local employment, use local businesses and create new training initiatives is reward in itself, but to receive industry recognition for the quality of the final product is the cherry on top.
“These nominations are paving the way for next year’s BAFTAs and I really hope that Liverpool productions and talent get the nominations – and awards – they deserve.”
Liverpool Film Office manages the LCR Production fund which is supported by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund.
For more information about Liverpool Film Office, click here.
