Sam Barnes in contention in Photography Action category, as Louis Myles goes for another win in Video Documentary alongside Ahmed Twaij, and Jack Bantock makes final cut for Young Reporters Writing award; awards ceremony gala to be held at AIPS Congress in Santa Susanna, Spain, on April 29…
Photographer Sam Barnes, documentary filmmaker Louis Myles and his fellow producer-director Ahmed Twaij, and journalist Jack Bancroft have made it through to the final stage of the prestigious AIPS Sport Media Awards.
They are the remaining British entries in contention at the sixth annual edition of the AIPS Awards, having all been confirmed on top-three podiums. The winners will be announced at the AIPS Congress on Monday 29 April.
There were nearly 1,900 entries for the awards, from 140 countries. When the category longlists were released, over 70 UK entries were included. The British contingent was then reduced to 32 on the shortlists, and then 12 on the Top 10 lists.
Dublin-based photographer Barnes, from Reading, works for Irish agency Sportsfile and is guaranteed a top-three slot in the Photography Sport Action category.
His entry ‘Falling Femke’ – an image of Femke Bol of the Netherlands during the mixed 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest – is up against entries from Italy and Turkey.
Last year, there was a clean sweep of wins for British photographers as Oli Scarff, John Walton and Will Palmer all triumphed in their respective categories.
Meanwhile, Myles will look to land the Video Documentary honours for the third time in four years having again made the top three.
His entry this year, ‘Mighty Penguins’ – which won the silver medal at the recent SJA 2023 Awards – follows the coach of Brentford Penguins FC and his players, all of whom have Down’s Syndrome.
He is named alongside his fellow producer-director on the short film, Ahmed Twaij.
Podium placers in each senior category will receive US $8,000 (first prize), US $3,000 (runner-up) and US $2,000 (third-place).
Finally, CNN Sport journalist Bantock is also on the podium in the Young Reporters Writing category for his in-depth feature on Black caddies at the Masters.
The three Young Reporters categories (Photography, Writing and Broadcasting) will have one winner each. They will all receive scholarships to a major international sports event.
All those who make the top three in their categories are invited to attend the awards ceremony, which will be part of the annual AIPS Congress in Santa Susanna, Spain.
Previous UK winners at the AIPS Sport Media Awards include Kate Rowan (Telegraph), Dina Asher-Smith (Telegraph column) and Suzy Wrack (The Guardian).
Here are the AIPS Sport Media Awards 2023 categories in which UK entrants were placed in the Top 3, with their names and entry details. Follow the category titles to see Podiums in full…
Photography Sport Action
Sam Barnes, Falling Femke – Sportsfile
Video Documentary
Louis Myles and Ahmed Twaij, Mighty Penguins – Meadow Lark
Young Reporters Writing
Jack Bantock, For nearly 50 years, only Black men caddied The Masters. One day, they all but vanished – CNN
Congratulations to all the above and good luck at the awards!
AIPS Sport Media Awards news index (AIPS Media)
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