Bend It Like Beckham’s Parminder Nagra Chooses Best Short Film At 2024 Midlands Movies Awards As Winners Revealed

With cameras ready and the red carpet rolled out, the stage was set for the 8th annual Midlands Movies Awards live from the prestigious Y Theatre in Leicester.

At a packed venue, it was filmmaker George C. Siougas who picked up the award for Best Short for The One Note Man – chosen by guest jury panel member Parminder Nagra (ITV’s DI Ray).

The One Note Man is a short comedy-drama film starring Jason Watkins and narrated by Sir Ian McKellen. It has already garnered much attention after being shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards. The film was shot in Birmingham, Dudley music hall and also in Buxton.

An annual golden night for the region’s film community, the 16 talented winners were announced at a glitzy home-grown ceremony hosted by BBC’s Ed Stagg and Midlands Movies editor Michael Sales.

Hailing from Leicester, Parminder Nagra is best known for her star-making role in Bend It Like Beckham, as well as the Emmy Award-winning TV drama series, ER. More recently, her starring role in the female driven medical series Maternal, and is due to be seen as the titular character in the second series of the ITV’s DI Ray.

Of the winner she said, “I got to see some outstanding work and the calibre was extremely high. So therefore it was obviously very difficult to choose [a winner]. And congratulations should go to everyone involved, I wish them all the best of luck for their future in film”.

Midlands Movies founder Mike Sales goes on to add, “It was another exceptional night for regional filmmakers. They brought their A-game to every production and although there’s healthy competition, the support and respect shown for each other in the Midlands film community was phenomenal”.

“As always, I’m very proud of each and every filmmaker who has managed to complete a project with few resources, limited budgets and many other difficulties faced by creatives. Indie filmmakers have once again done so well with the challenges and it’s that which we also celebrated on the night”.

“And although the Midlands can sometimes be overlooked on the UK stage, we’re doing everything with our awards to help highlight these films to change that perception. From those in front and behind the camera, the talent this year has been exceptional”, he adds.

The full 2024 Midlands Movies Awards winners:

Best Short: The One Note Man by George C. Siougas

Best Director: Evie Fehilly for Period Drama

Best Feature: Dig Me No Grave by Ranjeet Singh Marwa

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Sherice Banton for Fade in: to Murder

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Ian Gelder for Ticker

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Emily Drewett for Treble Me This

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: James Bryhan for Dig Me No Grave

Best Writing (original/adapted screenplay): Shane Grant for Bunny Jake is Missing

Best Documentary (sponsored by Pinboard Media): City on Screen by Matthew R. Ford

Best Editing: Lisa Rustage for Plaggy Bag

Best Cinematography: /Lou Murrall for Kamerad

Best Visual Effects: Simon Gibbs for A Brighter Blue

Best Sound (editing or mixing): Giovanni Tria for Blondi’s War

Best Music (score or song): Stephen Warbeck for The One Note Man

Best Animated Film: Visible Mending by Samantha Moore

Best Costume, Make-up & Hairstyling: Daniel Hall for Period Drama