Film London’s Best of Borough Film Awards awarded East London film-maker Alex Taylor the jury award on July 6 for his short film, Kids Might Fly.

Taylor, based in the London Borough of Hackney, was presented the award by British director Gurinder Chadha at a ceremony at Bafta.

A portrait of young people in East London, the film was picked by a panel of industry experts including Helen Dewitt, producer of The Times BFI London Film Festival and Ed Fletcher, co-director of Soda Pictures.

The audience award went to Gary Grant, from the borough of Enfield, for his directorial debut short Daisy’s Last Stand about Alzheimer’s.  The film, one of 13 shortlisted, was voted for by members of the public on the Film London website, receiving almost a quarter of the 4000 votes.

Both films were produced through London Borough Film Fund Challenge, a scheme to promote short film-making initiated by Film London which is open to all residents of participating boroughs in London. The scheme offers between $800 (£500) and $6,500 (£4000) towards the production of a short film, and is funded by the boroughs, with financial support from Film London.

At present, 15 of the 33 London boroughs are involved with the film fund challenge but London mayor Boris Johnson is expected to announce an expansion of the scheme next month. The aim is to give every London resident the chance to make a film, by giving them access to a local film fund.

Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London said: “Through short films, film-makers are able to hone their talent and creativity. The London boroughs continued support of new film-makers must be applauded.”

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