Award Winners Revealed for Rob Knox London Film Festival 2025

AWARD WINNERS REVEALED FOR ROB KNOX LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2025

      In association with Picturehouse Central and The Rob Knox Foundation

–        Sold-out Awards ceremony celebrates rising young UK film and TV talent

–        Documentary Stranded wins two awards including Industry Choice Award

–        Special Legacy Award presented to family of murdered teenager Charlie Cosser

–        Presenters include John Altman (EastEnders), Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser) and Jake West (Doghouse)

–        Festival message from Ellie Rae Winstone and Tracy Beaker’s Dani Harmer 

–        Future film projects continue to develop Rob Knox’s legacy

The Rob Knox Foundation celebrated its 16th and final film festival at Picturehouse Central in London with a sold-out programme of short films by 11 new UK filmmakers, featuring documentaries, genre films and social dramas, followed by an award ceremony. The whole proceedings were hosted by Festival director, filmmaker and Rob’s close friend, Aaron Truss (The Rob Knox Story, Pareidolia) to support knife crime awareness and platform brand new talent in the film industry.

The winners for the final Rob Knox London Film Festival are:

Best Screenplay: EASY SELL (dir. Ken Abalos, Ash Meshkati)

Best Editing: GENTLE AS MOSS ON STONE (dir. Vicky Isley, Paul Smith)

Best Cinematography: LAKE ON THE CABIN (dir. Jem Karto)

Best Social Film: SEE THE MOTHER (dir. Frank Berry)

Best Non-Fiction Film: STRANDED (dir. John Moschopoulos)

Best Supporting Performance: RUTH E. MAKU (LOVEBIRDS)

Best Performance: MACAULEY KEEPER (AORTIC)

Best Film: WHEN YOU LEFT ME (dir. Jevan Chowdhury)

The Rob Knox Legacy Award: MARTIN COSSER & CHARLIE’S PROMISE

The Industry Choice Award: STRANDED (dir. John Moschopoulos)

The awards were presented by celebrities and industry professionals such as John Altman (EastEnders), Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser, Nightbreed), Graham Humphreys (renowned poster illustrator for The Evil Dead and A Nightmare on Elm Street) and film director Jake West (DogHouse, Razor Blade Smile).

Other presenters included documentarian Sarah Appleton (Found Footage Phenomenon, The J-Horror Virus), actor and musician Joe Acres (Taxi Joe, Pareidolia), director LG White (The Dark Fantastic) and Michael Wearing (the previous Rob Knox Film Festival Director, who has just completed his first feature film). Whilst the film festival will be coming to a close, the Rob Knox Foundation will still be actively fighting and campaigning against knife crime in the UK.

The Rob Knox Legacy Award, which was created in 2023 to honour and celebrate the work of people’s hard work in communities through knife crime and social issues was awarded to Martin Cosser and Charlie’s Promise, a charity set up after the murder of seventeen-year-old Charlie Cosser whilst he was attending a house party in West Sussex. Since his murder, his family have been campaigning to bring knife crime education into schools to help tackle the ongoing knife epidemic. Charlie’s mother, Tara Cosser, accepted the award and said:

“I know Martin has a huge amount of respect for Colin and Aaron and everyone at the Rob Knox Foundation for what they do for Rob’s legacy. Martin is very honoured and thankful for the recognition that you’ve given him not only for his work with Charlie’s Promise, but also as Charlie’s Dad”.

Reflecting on his feelings about this last festival. Aaron Truss said, “It’s been the most incredible journey to be able to honour my close friend Rob Knox in the most fitting way possible. The outpouring of talent, love, support and fire has been overwhelming. To have been able to continue his legacy for 16 years through platforming young and emerging talent in the film and television industry is incredibly fitting and I know he’s up there, looking down on all these amazingly talented people”.

A recorded message from actress Ellie Rae Winstone, who was unable to attend, offered words of encouragement to all emerging filmmakers: ”Congratulations to all the incredible talent in the room, you have worked so hard and done it with heart. To everyone who has a passion for movies, whether is it the technical aspects or the stories that stick with you, your presence in this industry is invaluable. Film is such a wonderful art, and a community like this makes it an absolute treasure to believe in. I hope you all have a wonderful night. May your pillow stay cold and your inspiration stay bold. Rob Knox forever”’

Following the awards ceremony, a special message was screened from Tracy Beaker’s Dani Harmer, a patron of the film festival who praised everyone’s work at the festival at the festival, especially the filmmakers and announced that she would be starring in the upcoming film Employee of the Dead – the directorial debut feature film from Aaron Truss.

Whilst both Rob’s parents were not present a video message from Colin Knox (Rob’s father) was played to the audience which included clips from the very first film festival in 2009, hosted by British television actor, Graham Cole (The Bill). In the message, Colin directed his plea to the young filmmakers in the audience:

“Even though the Rob Knox London Film Festival is coming to an end, let this be the start of your journey. The journey where you try to fulfil your dreams, because there’s a boy upstairs who will always be eighteen and he will look down on you with pride, the way he has done for the last sixteen years. If you have a dream, follow it. It’s not a rainbow, it’s a dream, dreams can come true and if you want to succeed in the film industry – just go for it”.

The annual event has been running since 2009 and organised as a charity fund-raiser for the Rob Knox Foundation, which was set up after the tragic death of the Harry Potter actor Rob Knox in a knife crime attack in 2008. It aims to educate young people around street awareness and knife crime. Founded by Colin Knox and Sally Holder (Rob’s parents), Ray Winstone is the charity’s patron and Aaron Truss and Alice Amata are the directors of the Rob Knox London Film Festival. Picturehouse Central retains its support with the Rob Knox memorial plaque permanently on display in its members’ bar.