Maddie Lock is an award-winning queer, non-binary and working class filmmaker born in Eastbourne and based in Margate. They are inspired by seaside and folk-based histories, underrepresented voices, and working with communities to create projects that have accessibility and inclusion at their core. Their films to date have explored gender and sexuality (Monsters), neurodiversity (Welcome to the Puppet Show: A Day at the Circus), and belonging in seaside towns as a queer/trans person (Family Tides), all aiming to portray these topics through a political and playful lens to reclaim the narrative. Maddie has received funding and awards including: - Prince William BAFTA Bursary 2025 - Shortlisted for the Iris Prize Documentary Fund 2024 - Short Cut Film Fund 2023/24 (Young Film Network South East, Independent Cinema Office, BFI Film Academy) - Screenskills Film Bursary 2024 - The Pebble Trust’s Young People Bursary 2024 (Brighton Fringe Bursary)