Digital Voice wins Best Documentary at Tees Valley International Film Festival
“I just think people should understand that one punch can totally devastate people's lives.”
Trigger Warning: This article discusses serious violence and its impact on victims.
Digital Voice was recently the recipient of the 2025 Tees Valley International Film Festival’s Best Documentary award for our film ‘One Punch’. This film, made in partnership with Gateshead Council’s Youth Justice Service (YJS), tackles the issue of serious youth violence and the impact that just a single punch can have on both victim and perpetrator.
Through the power of our DigitalMe programme, we were able to work with the victim and their family, as well as the young person involved in the crime, to deliver this powerful film showing the wide-ranging impact this incident has had for those connected to it.
Such stories are difficult to hear, and harder to tell; however, our film ends on a message of hope and the film’s existence, will hopefully offer support to other people in the same situation.
Gateshead Children’s Social Care now uses the video as a key training resource to support children who may be at risk of entering the youth justice system. Gateshead’s YJS has also circulated the film to external partners and other services, helping children, victims, and the wider community better understand the positive difference the service makes in young people’s lives. The victim featured in the film, along with his mother and the Victim Liaison Officer, attended a management board meeting where the video was presented. Encouraged by the project’s success, Gateshead has plans to develop additional videos in the near future.
Emma Blackwell, Head of Youth Justice Team at Gateshead Council, reflects on the importance of this film:
“One day in Newcastle a man’s life was changed forever, he was the victim of ‘one punch’ which had a huge impact on the rest of his life, but it wasn’t only his life that was about to change, his mum and family would live a nightmare and the young person who caused the harm would regret his decision. This is the real-life story of the impact of serious youth violence. We hope to reach as many people as possible with this story for people to understand the impact of one punch.”
Our Managing Director Julie Nicholson, who produced the film alongside Ronnie Johnston, was delighted to see the film not only shortlisted as Best North East Short Film but to go and win in the Best Documentary category:
“We are so happy and honoured that the film has been recognised in this way. 'One Punch' is a really powerful piece about how serious youth violence can change the lives of all those involved.”
You can watch One Punch here:
DigitalMe is our innovative approach to difficult or painful stories, it allows people to share their experiences whilst maintaining their anonymity. If you have an issue or topic that could benefit from this process, please get in touch.