I am delighted to share with you the results of my 2024 Dramatic Action Awards, a celebration of the positive impact that individuals and companies have had in the arts, film & television within the 61 projects that I have been engaged on as fight director or stunt coordinator in the last 18 months.
It's been a remarkable time and the award winners represent the spirit which is driving our industry forward. Their achievements showcase how compelling action sequences can elevate storytelling and create unforgettable moments for audiences. It should be noted that several of the productions associated with these awards have not yet been released.
The 2024 Award Winners
Best Feature Film: Kneecap
When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed 'low life scum' Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue. Top notch work from some very lovely people. KNEECAP on SPOTIFY
Best Director: Rich Peppiatt (Kneecap)
Rich Peppiatt is known for Kneecap (2024), Supershoppers (2016) and Backseat Driver (2019). He had a tremendous vision for this film and it was a pleasure to come in on the pickups to take care of the action. You never know when you work on these things if they are going to be a big hit or disappear into obscurity but it was clear to me as we shot that there was something magical happening.
Best Actress: Bobby Rainsbury (Empty House aka The House Was Not Hungry Then)
I worked with Bobby even more recently on the short film Lure, but this award is for the work she did fighting on the feature film "Empty House" which will be released as "The House Was Not Hungry Then" in 2025. A well deserved win for her work on some rather tricky action shot in wide sweeping single takes. The film is directed by Harry Aspinwall and stars Bobby alongside Clive Russell & Bill Paterson. Do please watch out for it!Bobby Rainsbury is a Scottish actress, who was born and raised in Glasgow. Since graduating from the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Bobby has worked in TV and independent film. She is known for her work in Only You (2018), The Athena (2018), In Plain Sight (2016), Rillington Place (2016) and Filth (2013).
Best Actor: George Mackay (Mission)
In 2016, George starred in the film Captain Fantastic (2016), opposite Viggo Mortensen, and the mini-series 22.11.63 (2016), with James Franco and Sarah Gadon. He rounded out the decade playing the starring role in Sam Mendes' 1917 (2019), a box office hit and highly critically-acclaimed drama set during World War I and shot to simulate a single take in real time. I worked with George on Mission and there was no two ways about it. He absolutely had to have the Best Actor Award, for his performances in the action scenes of this, as yet unreleased, feature. It's gonna be pretty awesome!
Best Action Performer: Joseph Iyore
Joseph Iyore came in as one of the fighters on a boxing match I was directing and he was awesome. I try and keep and eye open for new action folk that stand out from the crowd and Joseph is one to watch!
Follow Joe on Instagram here: @gi_mwp
Best Television Production: Only Child
Great fun with a wonderful script, terrific actors, a fantastic crew and couple of silly fights between me and Paul Rattray. (see below).
Best Short Film or Teaser: Midgies
This proof of concept short really made it's mark when it was released earlier this year. Directed by Alessio Avezzano & written by Barry Hutchison this little film punches well above its weight. The action elements are small but distinct. I'm sending positive waves out there for the feature to be made!
The David Goodall Award for Excellence in Dramatic Action: John Scougall
Sometimes an actor comes along who just gets it. He's up for the action and gives it his all. I worked with John on the short proof of concept film "Midgies". John is a very committed actor who delivered on the action he was asked to do and was a pleasure to work with. This Award is presented in memory of the late David Goodall, friend and fight choreographer, who sadly passed away last year. It is awarded for excellence, strength of spirit and positive mental attitude. Instagram: @john_scougall
Best Scripted Action: Paul Wright (Mission)
Paul is considered to be one of the most exciting filmmakers of his generation.
Brought up in Fife, Paul moved to Edinburgh to begin studying film and photography, where he quickly developed a passion for filmmaking. He went on to study film at Glasgow’s RSAMD, where his abilities stood out. The work he has done on Mission, which he wrote and directed and on which I worked as Fight Director with Steen Young as Stunt Coordinator is quite incredible. Watch out for it. I suspect it may be heading to the top of the awards lists in 2025. I'll get this award in first though!
The Duellist Award for Best Swordplay: Perambulations of a Justified Sinner
I worked closely with Samuel Edgren & Sandy Batchelor for several sessions of swordplay and other violence in the 2024 production of Perambulations of a Justified Sinner. This app based production was put together for Edinburgh International Book Festival by Grid Iron director Ben Harrison and novelist Louise Welsh. The result was part walking tour, part podcast, as those taking part tune in to a download on their smartphone. Through headphones, our guide, aka The Editor, leads us over an hour or so from kirk to kirk and down Old Town closes. Horrible histories of local landmarks are interspersed with filmed scenes that condense Hogg’s tale into YouTube-friendly bite-size chunks. The cast did a terrific job and took to the sword work like ducks to water. NB This is not an award for my choreography, but for the talents and efforts of the actors and company involved.
Best Comedy Performance: Paul Rattray (Only Child)
I had the pleasure of working once again with Paul on Only Child, a 2024 British comedy sitcom series starring Gregor Fisher and Greg McHugh. It was released on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer on 21 November 2024 and BBC One on 22 November 2024. Paul Rattray has always been phenomenal but working with him on this production was an absolute joy. A well deserved win for a fantastic performance.
Best Production Team: River City
The Best Production Team Award could have gone to so many worthy recipients this year but River City continues to be one of my favourite gigs and is run by a team of pros who are at the top of their game. It's classed and sometimes dismissed as being a mere soap opera, but this is a tough genre to make a mark in, and River City succeeds in doing so. This award honours the professionalism, skill and quality of work put out in the show, but particularly the efforts and good nature of the team that works behind the scenes, to make it all happen.
River City is a Scottish television soap opera created by Stephen Greenhorn which has been broadcast on BBC One Scotland since 24 September 2002. Since 2019, the show has aired episodes a day earlier on the new BBC Scotland channel. Set in the fictional district of Shieldinch in the west end of Glasgow, River City follows the lives of the local residents and their families as they go about their day-to-day lives. From its inception in 2002, the soap struggled to grasp viewers' approval, but would gradually see a rise in popularity. In 2023, the soap won 'Best Drama' at the Royal Television Society Scotland awards.
(Special Award) Best Action Podcast: Film Fights with Friends
For decades, battles of film knowledge have taken place on couches, in theaters, on bar stools and in the gym between (sometimes during) sparring sessions. Paul Varacchi and Stephen Koepfer are career martial artists, stuntmen and filmmakers who have never kept their opinions to themselves. With so many great fight films analyzed and even more left untouched, Steve and Paul take to the airwaves with an industry guest each episode for a deep dive into a singular fight scene from a film or television show that will lead down a rabbit hole any fight, film and stunt nerd would go to the mat to be a part of.
Rising Star Award: Blake O'Carroll (Mrs Brown's Boys)
I had the pleasure of working with Blake on a wee piece of action in the upcoming New Years special of Mrs Brown's Boys. He was spot on with the action and took direction wonderfully well. I try to give teh Rising Star Award to those in which I see talent, and Blake has it.
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