‘The film’s strength is the unstuffy, non-patronising, intelligent storytelling it brings to a young audience who would usually go online for this content’
Film-maker Marcus Plowright doesn’t take the easy route in this two-parter, which marks the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena. In telling the story of that day, Worlds Collide both rewinds to show how the bomber became radicalised and spins forward to the 2022 public inquiry.
The judges were bowled over by a “beautifully crafted” series that uses the narrative language of premium drama and credits audiences with the intelligence to piece the story together.
They were also struck by the film’s strong journalism and fresh interview techniques, as well as its thoughtful use of CCTV footage and material from the inquiry.
As the story of an event largely attended by families and young fans of Ariana Grande, Plowright is careful to speak to witnesses with sensitivity.
Families who lost members on that day are given space to share their stories, while the series delves deeper into the role and response of the emergency services and MI5 – and their failure to stop the bomber. “Its strength is its unstuffy, non-patronising, intelligent storytelling, which it brings to a young audience who would usually go online for this content,” said one judge.
Another praised it for making room for “important stories that will be lost to history very soon”.
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