Iconic film director and screenwriter Ken Loach launched the inaugural Mansfield Town Film Festival.

The three-day event at the Palace Theatre, Mansfield, attracted hundreds of people to watch a wide variety of short films, take part in breakout sessions, and enjoy the first ever Mansfield Film Awards (Mannies).

Festival founder Jay Martin, a former student at The Brunts Academy, Mansfield, and an award winner himself with his locally-themed political documentary REDt’BLUE, said the festival had a strong focus on diverse, working-class talent from across the country and internationally.

It aimed to support working class filmmakers to show their films to a live audience for the first time.

Ken, a two-time Palme D’Or winner, BAFTA winner, and OSCAR nominee, praised Jay and all those who helped to put on the event as he launched the first festival.

He said: “It’s important a town like Mansfield has cultural and artistic events. They tend to get forgotten when grants are dished out and we never seem to get the big events we should have.

“But arts, culture, films are important. Films are worth more than just the commercial events we get in multiplexes.

“Films shows us many different stories, cultures, experiences and backgrounds. We can learn and enjoy a lot from them.

“It is important that we hear our own stories too. We have stories to tell that commercial cinema won’t touch. We understand our world better when we see it reflected on the big screen… and see our role in changing things for the better.

“Cinema may not only entertain us, it can enhance our lives and show us things we hadn’t thought of, and give us strength when times are hard… and most importantly to have fun.”

The winners of the Mansfield Awards (Mannies) were:

Heart Of Mansfield (Best In Festival) – Margin.
Best Director – Arter Fanget for Magma
Best Narrative Short – You’re Absolutely Right
Best International Short – Father’s Day
Best Student Short – Whale Heart directed by Phillip Edge
Best Animated Short – The Red Ball directed by George Morgan
Best Cinematography – Magma
Working Class Voices – Margin
Best Music Video – Stone Giant by Boughton pianist Chris Miggels
Best Editing – Demon Box
Women’s Voices Award – Three directed by Amelia Sears
Best Performance In A Leading Role – Alison Fitzjohn in You’re Absolutely Right
LGBTQIA+ Voices Award – Louis The Great
Best Original Score – Whaler Heart
Best Documentary Short – The Champ Of Champs (about local boxder Steve Ward) directed by Brian Johnston