A Bermudian cinematographer played a key role in a winning entry for the 2026 London Independent Film Festival.

Andrew Kirkpatrick, the founder of Burnt House Productions, was director of photography for Finding My Voice, created as part of an international collaboration.

The film picked up the Best UK Feature film and Best UK Screenplay at the awards.

Directed by Arabella Burfitt-Dons, the British coming-of-age drama follows Melanie, a singer-songwriter whose ambitions are upended by family tragedy, when music becomes central to the rebuilding of her life.

Mr Kirkpatrick’s involvement was born out of connections within Bermuda’s film community. Having worked on several films with Bermudian-based film-maker and actress Brooke Williams, he built a body of work that eventually caught the attention of Ms Williams’s sister, Ms Burfitt-Dons.

Impressed by his cinematography, the director was keen to bring Mr Kirkpatrick on board as director of photography for Finding My Voice.

Mr Kirkpatrick said: “I had such an amazing time working on Finding My Voice in Essex.

“One of the things I enjoyed most was collaborating with Arabella. She had such a clear vision for the film and I loved being part of the process of bringing it to life.

“It was one of those shoots where no two days were the same. One day we’d be filming underwater, the next rigging cameras to cars, then taking over entire schools and churches for some pretty ambitious scenes.

“There were definitely some long days in the trenches and many late nights fuelled by fast food, but that's also where some of the best memories are made.

“We had such a great crew and everyone really pulled together to make it happen.

“Seeing the finished film makes all those hours worthwhile and I’m genuinely proud to have been part of it.”

The film features a notable British cast, including Michelle Ryan, known for Bionic Woman and Doctor Who, Nick Moran, recognised for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, and Kierston Wareing, whose credits include the acclaimed film Fish Tank.

They appear alongside emerging performer Anais Garness, who leads the film as Melanie.

Music is central to the story, with composer Nick Southwood contributing to the production.

Mr Kirkpatrick said the project represented another international feature-film credit and an example of how relationships built within Bermuda’s creative community can lead to opportunities overseas.