Winner
Kadri Mahmoud, Kiran Mandla and Chris Toumazou
Contemporary Media Practice BA, 2012
Having met at Harrow campus, Kadri, Kiran and Chris set up entertainment brand COMPULSORY from a bedroom in west London. Over six years they have grown from working on low-budget music videos to feature film distribution, television and broadcast advertising. They have created three videos with Stormzy, including number one trending YouTube video ‘Superheroes’, as well as two collaborations with Madonna.
COMPULSORY is currently the only independently-owned production company of its scale in London competing with zero investment. They champion young and emerging talent, and have managed the careers of over 15 directors and photographers, with work being selected at global film festivals. They have also received nominations for Best Production Company at the UK Music Video Awards 2019 and 2020, and worked with major brands such as Gucci, Vogue and Google.
Finalists
Alice Childs
Modern Languages BA, 1987
Alice has restored the house where Van Gogh lived from 1873 to 1874 into a centre for contemporary art while still keeping the spirit of the original house. Forging contacts with national institutions such as the V&A and Tate, she has used the international significance of Vincent’s story to give opportunities to apprentices, traditional craft practitioners, artists and the local community. The restoration of Van Gogh House London has been nominated for a national restoration award from Historic Houses.
Alice has also built up a sister space, the San Mei Gallery which offers affordable exhibition and studio space and links local community and youth activities with ambitious international, cross-cultural projects. A degree in Chinese from Westminster has been the key element in the success of the project.
Samantha Moy
Media Studies with Radio BA, 1998
Samantha Moy is the Head of BBC Radio 6 Music. She began her career at London’s Kiss 100, before joining production company, Somethin’ Else. She then spent nine years at Radio 1, producing Steve Lamacq, Jo Whiley, Chris Moyles and Annie Mac, amongst others. Sam was also an Event Producer at the BBC Electric Proms in 2008-2009. She joined 6 Music and Radio 2 as Executive Producer in 2011, becoming 6 Music’s Network Editor in 2018.
Since August 2020, as 6 Music Head of Station, she has introduced Jamz Supernova and The Blessed Madonna to the network, given artists (including Loyle Carner and St. Vincent) their own residencies, commissioned series and specials from Cillian Murphy, The Beastie Boys, Robyn and Róisín Murphy, celebrated the independent music industry with State of Independents Day and overseen the virtual 6 Music Festival 2021.
Adam Randall
Film and Television BA, 2003
Adam is a film director, writer and creator. After graduating he worked his way up in the film industry, working on sets and on internships at production companies. In his spare time he continued writing and directing short films, trying to get films made and still pay the rent. His shorts got international recognition, particularly Hooded and Reflections.
In 2015 he directed his first feature film, Level Up. The next year he directed iBoy, Netflix’s first UK original film, starting Maisie Williams, Rory Kinnear and Miranda Richardson. In 2018 Adam directed his first US film, I See You, which premiered at SXSW festival. His fourth feature, Night Teeth, is another Netflix Original, and was shot before and during COVID lockdowns. He also has various TV series and film projects currently in development.