“This is a powerful, engaging and compelling film, and a privilege to watch”
Sandpaper Films for Channel 4
This feature-length film was praised by the judges for showing the impact of Covid-19 on families who were unable to be by their seriously ill loved ones’ sides during the pandemic, and shining a light on the reality of the virus at a time when many still did not believe it was serious.
The production team gained exclusive access to King’s College Hospital for six months during the first surge of the pandemic to document the stories of four Covid patients in intensive care.
Three of the four subjects were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, reflecting the disproportionate way in which the virus affected these groups.
As well as showing the human stories behind the statistics, the film documents the work of the doctors and nurses saving lives under enormous pressure. Their interactions with the families provide some of its most powerful moments, said the judges.
Taking an observational approach, without any commentary, the film allows its subjects to be the absolute focus and their stories to be ‘shown’ rather than ‘told’.
“This is a powerful, engaging and compelling film, and a privilege to watch,” said one judge.
Others characterised it as “intense, personal and touching”, as well as “empathetic, intensive and beautifully made”.
SHORTLISTED
Jack Thorne’s hard-hitting drama revolves around the close relationship between a carer and a care home resident during the first lockdown as the pandemic takes hold. Help faced huge obstacles in production, not least shooting in a care home against a backdrop of Covid restrictions.
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Lifted Entertainment for ITV
The much-loved series moved from the Australian jungle to Gwrych Castle in Wales, with a new team overseeing the production. Starting from scratch, and months behind schedule, they built six new sets for trials and challenges, and made a crumbling historic site safe and habitable for contestants.
Kate Garraway: Finding Derek
Flicker Productions for ITV
The Flicker documentary’s warm tone and emotional depth received extensive praise from the judges, while reviewers noted how powerful it is to see Garraway in a completely new light as she navigates a deeply personal trauma.
Pandemic 2020
KEO Films for BBC
Made by 50 film-makers in 20 countries, the film shows how people around the world experienced the pandemic. Fast-changing travel and lockdown restrictions in multiple countries made production management particularly difficult.
Staged
GCB Films & Infinity Hill for BBC
This quick-off-the-mark six-part comedy features actors David Tennant and Michael Sheen playing versions of themselves rehearsing a play over Zoom during lockdown. With the cast filming from their own homes using laptops and smart phones, the series connected with audiences also stuck indoors.
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