National Film Awards 2025: Films, Stats & Photographers

As the excitement builds for the 2025 National Film Awards, we are beyond thrilled to see so many projects and people we have had the privilege of working with nominated for various awards. Whether it is curating the right selection of images or managing the approvals process, ImageApprovals has been a trusted part of the workflow, helping productions bring their campaigns to life smoothly and efficiently.

Among this year’s standout nominees, the following approval stats offer a snapshot of the scale and complexity of image management we played a part in.

William Tell

Nominated for Best Action in a Film/Series | Best British Film | Best Director

Metric	Figure
Images Received	Over 3,500
Actors with Approvals	14
Days of Stills Shot	48
Stills Approved	91%

We have a particular love for the team at Tempo Productions who are behind the fantastic William Tell. It was on the set of Tempo’s Military Wives in conversation with one of the film’s producers that ImageApprovals was born, and since then we have supported Tempo Productions with three of their amazing titles.

William Tell has been our favourite so far — with a rich set of unit stills photography beautifully capturing all of the nail-biting action and the nuanced emotion of the film’s characters, it was truly a pleasure to see this creation unfold through the stills we received for actor approvals.

The Outrun

Nominated for Best Drama | Best Actress | Outstanding Performance

Metric	Figure
Images Received	Over 6,000
Curated for Cast Viewing	Just over 1,800
Actors with Approvals	2
Days of Stills Shot	13
Stills Approved	62%

From Sarah Brocklehurst’s Brock Media comes this incredible film that is not only up for three awards at this year’s National Film Awards, but has recently received two BAFTA nominations for Best Leading Actress in Saoirse Ronan as well as Outstanding British Film of the year.

As if that is not enough, it also received nine BIFA nominations, showing just how much of an outstanding piece of cinema this film is. It has been an absolute pleasure to support the Brock Media team on yet another of their incredible projects — and we cannot wait to see what they will be bringing to the British film industry next.

Cleaner

Nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Action in a Film/Series & Best British Film

Metric	Figure
Images Received	Just under 5,000
Curated for Cast Viewing	1,400
Actors with Approvals	9
Days of Stills Shot	35
Stills Approved	78%

From another of our regular clients, Cleaner is the seventh film from Anton Corp we have supported through the photo approvals process, and we are so happy to see it get the recognition it deserves at this year’s National Film Awards.

This project also came with a very particular challenge: a number of scenes involved masked characters, which can complicate the approvals process. Do those images need sign-off? What counts as a recognisable performance? And how do you balance contractual requirements with having enough approved production stills?

There is not always a clear-cut answer, but we have developed systems and experience that help productions navigate exactly this sort of grey area. For Cleaner, we worked with both the client and publicity team to flag these shots and provide guidance on best practice — meaning no hold-ups, clear approval requirements, and zero guesswork.

The Railway Children Return

Austin Haynes nominated for Best Newcomer

Metric	Figure
Images Received	3,198
Actors with Approvals	4
Stills Approved	76%

The team at STUDIOCANAL — no strangers to creating award-winning projects — have delivered yet another incredible piece of UK film in The Railway Children Return. Financing and producing an average of 30 films per year in multiple languages, with a distribution library boasting nearly 6,500 titles from 60 countries, STUDIOCANAL is a powerhouse when it comes to film.

This particular project presented a common but often overlooked challenge: a large proportion of stills were captured in extremely low-light conditions. While visually striking, such images can raise issues during the approvals process.

At what point does an actor become recognisable in near-darkness? Are these images relevant for cast sign-off? How about if they are brightened in post? And how do you assess whether a shot meets both creative and contractual expectations when visibility is limited?

These are decisions that require technical judgement and a nuanced understanding of cast preferences and production priorities. We worked closely with the team to evaluate each case appropriately, ensuring the approval process remained efficient, consistent, and aligned with all parties’ expectations.

Behind Every Great Still: A Nod to Our Photographers

Although the National Film Awards shine a light on performances, storytelling, and direction, we would like to pause and acknowledge the unit stills photographers whose behind-the-scenes work helps bring these productions to life long after the cameras stop rolling. Their images play a vital role in the cast approvals process — helping shape press kits, marketing campaigns, and the broader visual identity of each project.

It is not always glamorous work (set days can be long, light is fleeting, and access is limited), but the skill, timing, and discretion of these photographers are what make those perfect frames possible. Here are some of the unit stills photographers we have had the pleasure of working with across this year’s nominated productions.

Chiabella James — A British unit stills photographer whose credits include Dune, The Flash, and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, capturing evocative imagery that bridges cinematic storytelling and editorial portraiture.

Susie Allnutt — A London-based unit stills photographer with over 20 years’ experience, whose credits include The Little Mermaid, The Witcher, and Enola Holmes 2, capturing striking imagery across genres for major studios and indie films alike.

Natalie Seery — A London-based unit stills photographer whose credits include After Life, I May Destroy You, and Bad Sisters, known for capturing evocative imagery that bridges cinematic storytelling and editorial portraiture.

Ludovic Robert — A London-based French unit stills and key art photographer whose credits include Killing Eve, The Third Day, and Black Doves, capturing cinematic visuals across both television and film productions.

Jaap Buitendijk — A renowned Dutch-born unit stills photographer based in the UK, celebrated for his work on films such as Barbie, Wonka, 12 Years a Slave, Harry Potter, and Gladiator, where he captures iconic imagery and key art that define cinematic moments.

Lorenzo Pesca — An award-winning Italian photographer renowned for his evocative editorial and advertising work, with notable projects including Eurogeneration, American Diaries, and Portrait of Italy, blending cinematic storytelling with a deeply humanistic lens.

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Need unit stills support for your next production? Whether you need help sourcing and scheduling your unit photographer, managing image delivery and talent approvals, or assistance with retouching or captioning, ImageApprovals is your one-stop shop for all things stills. Learn more about how our platform works or get in touch with our team today.