Beyond the Awards

For this episode of Beyond the Awards, we’re joined by Leanne Perrins, a wedding filmmaker with more than 15 years of experience, who has also expanded into commercial filmmaking.Leanne has seen the wedding film industry change dramatically, from filming on tape and charging £200 for a wedding, to the rise of cinematic filmmaking, social media, content creators and AI. She’s also spent years judging awards, and this year joined the judging panel for the British Wedding Film Festival.We talk about what actually catches a judge’s attention, why technically impressive films don’t always become the most memorable, and why Leanne believes you should enter the film you love rather than trying to second-guess what a judge wants to see.We also get into trends, sound design, natural audio, the return of the camcorder look, content creators, and whether wedding filmmakers are sometimes too concerned with what everyone else is doing.If you’re looking for a reminder to trust your own creative instincts and make the work you actually love, this one’s for you.The British Wedding Film Festival⁠⁠https://www.britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠Leanne Perrinshttps://bloominglovelyfilms.co.ukhttps://www.leanneperrins.co.uk/Joce (Lune de Miel Studio)⁠⁠https://www.lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals)⁠⁠https://www.jeffwoodvisuals.com⁠⁠Vidflowhttps://vidflow.co/britishweddingfilmfestivalDeliver a premium viewing experience that looks professional and easily accessible on all client devices.

In this special episode of Beyond the Awards, we sit down with Mathias from Callenes Films, winner of Best Cinematography at this year’s Festival. This episode was recorded in French and dubbed for our international audience.For Mathias, everything begins with light. From mastering natural and artificial light to creating emotion, atmosphere, and meaning within a frame, he explains how light has become the foundation of his visual identity. We also dive into his love of cinema, his use of anamorphic lenses, and his belief that the most powerful wedding films are driven by time, memory, and storytelling.Whether you're a wedding filmmaker, cinematographer, or creative storyteller, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on creating meaningful visual work.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GUESTCallenes Films: callenes-films.comHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠VIDFLOWDeliver a premium viewing experience that looks professional and easily accessible on all client devices. ⁠⁠⁠vidflow.co/britishweddingfilmfestival

In this episode, we sit down with Philip London, winner of Best Use of Aerial or Drone footage at this year's Festival. We dive deep into the art of drone cinematography, and why less is often so much more when it comes to capturing a wedding day. Philip shares his unique journey into the industry, from flying manual, high-speed model jets to picking up a camera, and how that precise background shaped his approach to aerial filmmaking. We discuss the discipline behind his signature slow, deliberate visual style, and why he chooses to chase the quiet magic of sunrise over sunset. We also get into the realities of high-stakes filming, from navigating strict drone regulations and heavy winds to the hilarious (and painful) realities of trying to land a drone on a drifting boat in Lake Como. Plus, Philip reveals the unexpected technical choices behind his award-winning work and what happens when a major Universal music producer hires you to shoot their wedding. This is a conversation about mastering your tools, resisting fast-paced editing trends, and using drone with true creative purpose to elevate your films.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GUESTPhilip London: ⁠philip.londonHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com⁠⁠VIDFLOWDeliver a premium viewing experience that looks professional and easily accessible on all client devices. ⁠vidflow.co/britishweddingfilmfestival

This week on Beyond the Awards, we’re joined by Alex from Molehill Media, known for his interview-led documentary wedding films and winner of Best Use of Sound Design at the Beyond the Awards Festival.Alex shares how a deeply personal experience at his own wedding inspired his now-signature documentary style, built around interviews, real conversations, and immersive sound. From interviewing parents and grandparents to uncovering unexpected stories from guests, Alex explains why real voices can become the most valuable part of a wedding film years later.The conversation also dives into the practical side of this style: building trust with guests, handling overwhelming amounts of dialogue in the edit, and balancing creativity with the emotional responsibility of documenting people’s lives.Along the way, we chat about finding your own filmmaking identity, learning from international creators, the pressure that comes with awards success, and why being different matters more than following trends.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GUESTSMolehill Media: molehillmedia.comHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com⁠

In this episode of Beyond the Awards, we sit down with Katharine from KAS Films, winner of Breakthrough Filmmaker of the Year at the British Wedding Film Festival.Kas shares her unexpected journey from high-pressure TV production to building a thriving wedding filmmaking business in just a few short years. With a documentary-led approach and a deep focus on authentic human moments, her work stands out for its warmth, honesty, and emotional storytelling.We dive into:- How she transitioned from TV into weddings (and why it wasn’t planned)- Developing a distinct creative voice early in her career- The balance between capturing real moments vs. creating “perfect” shots- Managing growth, expectations, and burnout in a fast-moving industry- Why storytelling, emotion, and instinct matter more than gear or trendsPlus, we kick things off with one of our favourite segments, Two Truths and a Lie, featuring drones, darts alter egos, and a very unfortunate bollard incident.If you’re a filmmaker looking to find your style, build a sustainable career, or simply tell honest stories, this one’s for you.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠⁠⁠⁠GUESTSKAS Films: kasfilms.co.ukHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠⁠⁠⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠⁠⁠⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com

In this episode of Beyond the Awards, we sit down with the creative force behind The Wild Strawberry, Marisa and Ghislain - the duo who took the industry by storm with their unforgettable, rule-breaking films.Fresh off a standout performance at the awards, where they were both heavily nominated and multi-time winners, Marisa and Ghislain dive into the mindset, risks, and instincts that define their work. From building a brand with zero compromise to completely rethinking what wedding films can look and feel like, this conversation is packed with insight for filmmakers looking to push beyond the expected.We explore their unconventional journey into filmmaking, how they balance documentary storytelling with bold, cinematic ideas, and why trusting your instincts (even when it feels risky) can be the most powerful creative decision you make. They also share how they collaborate as a couple, their unique editing process, and the importance of drawing inspiration from outside the wedding industry.This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in the “template” of wedding filmmaking, and is ready to break free.In this episode, we cover:- The origin story of The Wild Strawberry- Winning big and making a lasting impact at the awards- Creating without compromise (and why it matters)-Blending documentary storytelling with bold creative direction- Building trust with couples to push creative boundaries- Finding inspiration beyond the wedding industry- The realities of working, creating, and editing as a coupleIf you’ve ever wondered “how do they do it?”, this episode gets you closer to the answer.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠⁠⁠GUESTSThe Wild Strawberry: thewildstrawberry.frHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠⁠⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠⁠⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠⁠⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com

In this episode of Beyond the Awards, we sit down with Mike from MAC Videography, winner of Best UK Wedding Film, to unpack the creative decisions behind his standout work and why sound design can make or break a wedding film.From subtle foley layers and perfectly timed audio drops, to using natural moments and speech soundbites to heighten emotion, Mike shares how sound acts as the glue that transforms beautiful visuals into unforgettable storytelling.We also dive into:Balancing cinematic direction with documentary storytellingHow sound shapes pace, drama, and emotionCreating films that feel truly personal to each coupleThe reality of creative burnout and finding balance as a full-time wedding filmmaker.This is a must-listen for wedding filmmakers, creatives, and anyone interested in the craft behind emotionally powerful films.The British Wedding Film Festival: ⁠britishweddingfilmfestival.com⁠Instagram: ⁠britishweddingfilmfestival⁠GUESTSMAC Videography: macvideography.co.ukHOSTSJoce (Lune de Miel Studio): ⁠lunedemielstudio.com⁠Jeff (Jeff Wood Visuals): ⁠jeffwoodvisuals.com