A WINDERMERE filmmaker has won an award for his internationally renowned short film.

Acclaimed Windermere film director and producer Thomas Gardner was awarded Best Action Short for his multi-award winning short film ‘The Fronts of War’ at the Kings Cross Film Awards in London on Thursday.

The short follows two soldiers in the trenches during WW1.

Thomas, who wrote, produced and directed the short in 2021, shot the film at a replica trench in Maidstone, Kent owned by Andy Robertshaw, who is best known for working with Hollywood royalty such as Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes.

The 25-year-old said: “This award means so much. The event was fantastic, the other nominees deserve just as much praise and I will truly hold this night close to my heart.

“I would never have believed the film would have developed so much attention but nationally and internationally.

“It’s hard for me to comprehend all the attention it’s garnered but I am very much appreciative of all the love and support everyone has shown me and my incredible crew.”

The event was held at the Water Rats Theatre in Kings Cross, London and it was the first annual event for the awards.

Thomas said during his acceptance speech that filmmaking can be a difficult vocation without the right support and that networking was crucial for him early in his career to get to where he had gotten to now.

He dedicated the award to the rest of the nominees in his category, saying their hard work and dedication to the art of filmmaking made him want to strive to become a better filmmaker.

The prequel to ‘The Fronts of War’ is in the pre-production stages with the script now complete and preliminary casting about to get underway in the following months and will begin production in the new year.

READ MORE: Windermere filmmaker announces plans to write prequel to The Fronts of War