2025 WINNERS

MEEKZ “MINI ME” DELIVERS MAJOR PAYBACK IN EXPLOSIVE NEW VIDEO DIRECTED BY CINEMATIC MASTER KC LOCKE
Masked British Hip-Hop Artist Drops New Tune in a Sonic and Visual Tour de Force Helmed By the Rapper in Collaboration with the Hottest Music Video Director in the Industry

LONDON, APRIL 11, 2024 – One of the most prolific and culturally influential directors in the music video world, and the chief chronicler of the exploding Manchester Hip-Hop scene, KC Locke has just released a visual and sonic tour de force video featuring Manchester’s own masked rapper Meekz performing his highly-anticipated new tune “Mini Me.” A spectacular work of art, the video features Meekz traveling through a savage hellscape on a sonic night train to a dystopian future as he lashes out at his imitators or “Mini Me’s” who have copied his now popular masked look, his unique style of music and the original look of his videos.

“So many Mini Me’s and I’m the one to blame. I came into this industry and a lot of shit changed,” he sings. “When they ask them who inspires them they should mention me. I guess this shit was meant to be, I am so legendary.” His hypnotic refrain “So many Mini Me’s. So many Mini Me’s” echoes throughout the piece, sounding very much like “So many enemies. So many enemies” as he retells the story of his meteoric rise in the music industry and blasts the copycats who have ripped him off.

“Meekz wrote this song as a reaction to how others were stealing his brand and our style of filmmaking,” said KC who used motion control extensively in this video and in previous collaborations with the artist. “We created something here that references our past work together and then moves beyond the pretenders who have copied and cloned him, and into the post-apocalyptic future where Meekz is the only artist left standing. It’s a powerful statement, expressed in artform.”

The first half of the epic five-minute video features dizzying motion control work by G6Mocco, with Meekz scornfully taunting the plagiarists around him while floating and spinning through the air in a chair fixed to a massive robotic camera control rig, riding the machine like he’s at an amusement park. The stunning gyrating black rig becomes a major co-star of the video. The second half of the video presents Meekz in a wild doomsday world with blazing effects created by VFX studio LMNTL.

KC Locke is a highly experimental filmmaker who expands the boundaries of a creative vision while tapping into the cultural zeitgeist. His style is epic in both scale and confidence, contrasting grit with color to craft bespoke worlds for his artists that create intrigue and drive rewatchability. Over the course of his career KC has worked with top music artists such as Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Aitch, AJ Tracey, David Guetta, Little Mix, and Mahalia, to name a few. He has earned a string of nominations and awards in the UK, US, Europe, and Asia, including the New York International Film Awards, the Los Angeles Film Awards, Munich Music Video Awards, Manchester Film Festival, Tokyo International Short Film Festival, 2022 ARFF Barcelona // International Award, and London International Film Awards.

The film portrays Teo’s inner struggle, which is symbolized by his drawings. After the death of his child, he can no longer draw, because the last picture is a line that symbolizes the end. The other drawings make him reminisce about how he met his wife Mia and how they raised their child, Alex. In the present, however, he is alone, his child is dead and the marriage has failed. Their grief was too different, which is why they no longer understood each other. At the worst low point on the anniversary of the death, Teo receives metaphorical clues through a series of uncovered images that lead him on a path of self-discovery. The climax of the movie shows the unexpected encounter between Teo and Mia in the park, a symbolic place of their shared past. Teo realizes that Mia has always grieved in her own way and came to the park on their anniversary to swing where they used to celebrate Alex’s birthdays together.

In a landscape torn between harmony and conflict, ‘The Wolf Within’ delves deep into the relationship between wolves and humans in Europe. Through the lens of diverse characters, the film unveils the fragile balance of nature and the urgent need for coexistence. As wolves face an uncertain future, their journey intertwines with the resilience of communities, offering a poignant reflection on the essence of cohabitation in the modern world.

Special agent Jay plans the perfect proposal to his longtime partner Alex upon completion of their mission but when she loses her temper over her new shoes, all hope is lost for a “happy ever after” ending.

Wild Sea“ is a captivating short documentary that delves into the life of Jeff Allen, a trailblazing figure in the world of Sea Kayaking. The film traces Jeff’s journey from his formative years to his role as one of the foremost Sea Kayak guides and coaches of our time.

As we accompany Jeff on his odyssey, we are immersed in the depths of his past, including his experiences in the military and are granted access to his own personal traumas.

The film illuminates the transformative power of the sea as Jeff finds purpose and healing through his connection with the ocean. In particular, his 2004 Japan circumnavigation serves as a poignant testament to the cathartic influence of the ocean environment on his life.

“Wild Sea” is a poignant exploration of resilience, redemption, and the profound bond between humanity and the sea, offering a profound testament to the healing power of nature.

In Guadalajara, 1909, Carmen, an archaeologist, returns to investigate pre-Hispanic findings sent for the Independence Day anniversary. Amid political turmoil, she is tasked with restoring certain idols and objects, rumored to be cursed. Accompanied by Leonor, the housekeeper, Carmen explores the monumental house in search of answers. A grotesque specter, composed of human limbs, lurks in the shadows as Carmen discovers a special pre-Hispanic idol. The house becomes a terrifying stage where Carmen must decipher the mystery and survive this nightmare.

About The Red Stone

“La Piedra Roja” is a journey into the heart of early 1900s Mexico, where folklore and terror intertwine against a backdrop of historical richness. As the director, my vision was to explore the dark interplay between human beliefs and the supernatural, brought to life through a story that haunts and fascinates in equal measure.

This film could not have reached its full potential without the incredible talent in front of and behind the camera. Working with actresses Denisse Corona and Guadalupe Ortiz was a profound experience; their dedication and performances breathed life into the complex characters of our story, adding depth and authenticity to the film’s eerie atmosphere.

The visual and auditory experience of “La Piedra Roja” owes its richness to the remarkable talents of our art and costume design teams, as well as the mesmerizing score and sound design. Their collective genius has created a world that not only captivates the senses but also immerses the audience in the haunting beauty of Mexico during this tumultuous era.

“La Piedra Roja” is more than a film; it’s a testament to the power of collaborative storytelling and the magic of cinema that transcends time and place. I am immensely grateful to every individual who contributed their passion and skill to this project. Together, we have crafted a piece that I hope will resonate with audiences, leaving them with a lasting impression of the shadows and stories that define our shared humanity.

Thank you for joining us on this spectral journey through history and horror.

Uluabat Lake serves as a livelihood for the surrounding villagers with its abundant waters. Amidst the fishing activities on the lake, it also hosts a heartwarming human story of the extraordinary friendship between Fisherman Adem Yılmaz and a stork named Yaren. The documentary, starting from this heartwarming tale, also draws attention to the decreasing natural beauties over the years.

After working as a laborer in Bursa, Adem Yılmaz retires and returns to his village, Eskikaraağaç, which he has always loved. Upon his return, he immediately starts his father’s profession of fishing by getting a boat and fishing gear. One day in 2011, a stork lands on his boat, which surprises him. He offers it some fish he caught. Curiously, Adem waits to see if it will return the next day. Indeed, the stork returns the next day, and Adem continues to feed it, thus beginning their extraordinary friendship.

One day, the village headman suggests giving a name to this stork, and the name Yaren is proposed. Adem Yılmaz likes this name very much and starts calling the stork Yaren from then on. Every February, Adem becomes excited as he waits for Yaren. The journey is long, and as Adem contemplates all the adverse conditions from Africa to Turkey, his excitement grows even more. Upon seeing Yaren return safely, he breathes a sigh of relief. The friendship between Adem and Yaren has lasted for 13 years. Adem says he will continue this friendship for as long as he can, but he is also worried. Climate change has affected Uluabat Lake, and due to decreasing water levels over time, fewer storks come now. This is Adem’s greatest concern.

Two students get closer to eachother in a time, that does not intend this. Will the one be able to leave the ruins of his past behind and follow the call of the other?

Under every arch, in every wall, Richard von Mönchenberg feels the burden of the past, which he imposes on himself as he explores the ruins of his ancestors as part of an excursion. Does he have to lead the impoverished noble family back to its former greatness? Does he even want to? He could also follow the interesting feeling that he senses when his fellow student Anton Vogt observes him cautiously. He dares to do so in the dim light of the train carriage and lays his hand on the sleeping Anton’s hand. But the emotional state does not go unnoticed and their professor, the director of the university, becomes suspicious.

“ECTROPY” follows the Artist, a member of the Timeless Presence species who struggles to see his potential. Aided by the young Gaia, the Artist faces existential challenges and immense pressures as they paint the fabric of nature.

When an aging dancer’s mentorship turns to jealousy, his young protégé’s talent for mirroring ignites a dazzling duel of reality-bending choreography, blurring the line between creation and destruction.

In a parallel realm, Alice, a radiant angel of light, and Melinda, the mistress of darkness, are locked in an eternal cosmic battle. When their conflict spills into 21st-century Paris, Melinda traps Alice in a human life consumed by longing, heartbreak, and despair. Yet, as their struggle intensifies, their mysterious bond begins to reveal a truth that can neither be grasped nor renounced. As they battle for control, their lives and the fate of the Universe hang in the balance, tied to a secret waiting to be uncovered.