Written by Kianna Best on Jul 1, 2025. Posted in Awards and Festivals

UK film industry rolls out red carpet for inaugural location managers awards

The UK’s newest industry awards are shining the spotlight on the behind-the-scenes legends who shape the visual soul of film and TV. The inaugural UK Location Managers Awards, launching 4 October in Liverpool’s grand St George’s Hall, will honour the unsung craftspeople who bring scripts to life through place and precision. With high-profile sponsors, prestigious new categories, and long-overdue recognition, this celebration promises to change how the industry sees its on-the-ground creators.

In a glamorous turn for the often-overlooked professionals who quite literally set the scene, the UK film and television industry is launching the first-ever UK Location Managers Awards—an event set to honour the tireless talent of location managers, scouts, unit managers, and studio teams who bring stories to life from the ground up.

The inaugural ceremony will take place on Saturday, 4 October, 2025, at Liverpool’s iconic St George’s Hall, a fittingly grand backdrop for an industry milestone. Running from 3 PM to 8 PM, and followed by an exclusive after-party, the event promises to be a standout moment for the UK’s production calendar, paying long-overdue tribute to a group often working in the shadows.

"We’re shining a light on the people who make the magic happen long before the cameras roll," said producer Georgette Turner. "Location professionals work in all weathers, communities, landscapes and countries and  with tight deadlines and tighter budgets, yet they deliver environments and experiences that make stories come to life."

This fresh spotlight will be cast across six core awards, each one named in honour of a key figure from the locations world. Leading the list is the Michael Harm Supervising Location Manager Award, recognising a department head who balances creative vision with logistical finesse and budgetary control. The Terry Blyther Location Department Award honours collective excellence and collaboration across a team. The Neil Grigson Studio Unit Manager Award celebrates the quiet efficiency and on-site leadership of those who keep things running inside the studio gates.

Two jury-selected honours also join the mix. The Andre St John Unit Manager Award is aimed at individuals demonstrating exceptional organisational skill and crew leadership, while the Liverpool Film Office Rising Star Award focuses on identifying emerging talent reshaping the profession. Capping off the evening, the Fred Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award will pay tribute to a career of remarkable contribution and inspiration to the field.

More than just a trophy ceremony, the UK Location Managers Awards is positioning itself as a gathering point for the industry’s backstage creatives. Backing the launch are a slew of prominent sponsors including The Liverpool Film Office, Spotless H20, Supply2Location, Translux International, Makin Marquees, and MBS Lighting—names that know firsthand the value of location work done well.

The inaugural ceremony is taking place in Liverpool is no accident. The city has long played host to major UK and international shoots, often standing in for locales ranging from New York City to 1960s London. The Liverpool Film Office remains one of the UK’s most dynamic regional agencies, and its support of the Rising Star Award only underscores the city’s long-standing commitment to nurturing industry talent.

With British film and high-end television production currently riding a wave of global demand, from prestige dramas to Hollywood blockbusters, the pressure on location professionals has never been greater. Their ability to translate a director’s vision into real-world settings, while navigating permits, weather, neighbours, and parking logistics, is equal parts art and science.