Safety Net takes the 2026 Staffordshire Filmmaker award

The 2026 Staffordshire Filmmaker award goes to Safety Net, directed by Alfie Beard. The category exists to recognise work made in the county, and it remains the local anchor of a festival that now screens films from around the world.

Two honourable mentions were given. We Chosen Few, directed by Ryan Proudlove, and How To: Run a Football Club with Zero Budget, directed by Zak Thomas Whitton.

Also nominated in the category were Party Games by Alfie Beard, Philip Hardaker: Sculptured to Speak by Henry John Sedgley, Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu and The Last Call by Bailey Mowatt.

The full category is on the 2026 winners page.