University film maker wins BBC Award

A short film directed by a University of Teesside student has won a prestigious BBC film award.

Tom Marshall is a student on the BA (Hons) Television Production (Professional Practice) degree. His short comedy bigboy_74 took the top prize at the BBC New Film Makers Awards 2007. This is the film’s second award, having already clinched success at the ThinkSync Films competition earlier this year.

Tom, 21, from Middlesbrough, funded the film, a comedy with adult themes, which features actors Jo Hartley (Dead Man’s Shoes) and Harry Mett.

bigboy_74 was one of ten films shortlisted from over 400 entries submitted to the annual competition. As well as receiving a cash prize of £5,000, the winning film will be screened on BBC3 on Friday 14 December at 9.40pm.

It’s second time lucky for Tom. Last year he and Matt Rozdoba-Hallows narrowly missed out on the prize with the poignant Daddy’s Girl. Matt formed part of the three man production team that worked on bigboy_74.

Scott Watson of the University’s DigitalCity team said: ‘Tom and Matt are two of the most talented filmmakers in the Tees Valley. I’m delighted that they won this year having come so close last time around. They have a huge future ahead of them.’

Tom and Matt are now putting the finishing touches to a DigitalCity-funded documentary project. DigitalCity is supported by One NorthEast, the University of Teesside and Middlesbrough Council and aims to help in the regeneration of the Tees Valley through a range of new technology initiatives.

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