People’s Choice prize goes to Bus Baby by Jason Wingard and Gino Evans.

The Virgin Media Shorts 2010 competition has crowned Oscar Sharp as this year’s winner for his film Sign Language. The prize comes with funding worth $48,000 from Virgin Media and the UK Film Council to put towards his next film.

Sign Language is about a sign-holder working on Oxford Street who doesn’t want to leave a job he loves. Sharp beat more than 1,600 entries to win the prize. The jury of 12 industry experts included Thandie Newton, Mike Newell and Duncan Jones.

Mike Newell said “Sign Language is one of those films that stays with you after it is finished. It manages to incite emotion in hardly any time at all. I was delighted to see so much talent coming through this year, and wish all of our finalists the very best of luck for the future.”

Each of the 12 shortlisted films is showing on UK cinema screens as well as on Virgin’s TV on-demand service, on mobile phones and online at www.virginmediashorts.co.uk.

The People’s Choice award, with $3,200, went to Jason Wingard and Gino Evans for Bus Baby.

Last year’s winner Luke Snellin ahs gone on to make a new short, Disco, which stars Bill Milner and Izzy Meikle-Small.

The third-annual awards were handed out at a ceremony hosted by Danny Wallace on Tuesday night at the BFI Southbank.

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