A 19-year-old filmmaker from Leicester has won the Best Story award for his A-level horror short Deadlines at a prestigious national ceremony celebrating emerging talent in UK film.
Ben Melocha, now a first-year film student at Falmouth University, was recognised at the star-studded ‘Into Film Awards,’ held on June 24th at ODEON Luxe, Leicester Square — the same venue used for major Hollywood premieres. Hosted by actor and author Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE, the evening drew a glittering crowd, including Hugh Grant, Olivia Cooke, James Norton, Andy Serkis, and award presenters Eiza González and Archie Madekwe.
Picture credit: Into Film
Ben’s film, Deadlines, is a tense and unsettling short inspired by the psychological horror of directors like David Cronenberg and John Carpenter. It follows an overworked office employee who spirals into madness after discovering something disturbingly organic inside her computer. Written, directed, edited, and produced by Ben for his A-level coursework — with friends helping out as actors and crew — the film explores modern anxieties around AI, worker disposability, and mental health in corporate environments.
“I absolutely didn’t expect to win,” said Ben after receiving the award. “My teacher told me I should enter and I thought that would be the end of it. Then I got shortlisted and thought, ‘What?’ You never think your work is that good — but apparently other people do.”
The horror in Deadlines is more than just gore. Underneath its visceral imagery lies a thoughtful metaphor about how both people and machines are discarded when deemed no longer useful. As Ben explained, the film took on deeper meaning during the editing process:
“I started thinking of the computer and the protagonist as both victims. They’re equally replaceable. That hit me while cutting the film, and it really stuck.”
Though the story wasn’t originally conceived as a commentary on AI, many viewers have interpreted it that way — and Ben doesn’t disagree. “The AI metaphor is definitely there. It’s something looming over all of us, especially in creative industries,” he says.
Winning the award — presented on stage just metres from stars like Hugh Grant — has given Ben a boost of confidence early in his career.
“It’s been a big confidence boost. I’ve already got more ideas I’m working on and chatting to friends about. After this, I feel like I really have to pursue them,” he told the Leicester Times.
The ceremony also gave him a taste of the industry’s glitz, including interviews with press and a surreal moment watching a clip of his film played on the giant screen inside the iconic cinema.
“It wasn’t my favourite bit — probably because there were kids in the room — but it was amazing seeing it up there. And then suddenly you’re giving a speech and talking to reporters. It was overwhelming, but in a good way,” he revealed.
While Ben admits he’s still developing his voice as a filmmaker, his passion for atmospheric, discomforting horror is clear: “I’m not about jump scares. I like horror that makes you feel uneasy — something visceral that lingers after it’s over,” he shares.
With his award-winning debut already making waves and a new academic year ahead, Ben Melocha is a name to watch in the future of British film — especially if you’re ready to be uncomfortable.
Watch Ben’s film at: https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/into-film-awards-2025-best-story-deadlines
