Kenneth Kangethe and Akil Higgins were honoured at the British Universities Film & Video Council’s Learning on Screen Awards, picking up the award for Student Production Documentary.

Akil, 24, who graduated in 2016, said: “It felt amazing just to be nominated but to actually win was great. Seeing our documentary being shown on the big screen at the awards was a great feeling. I would like to thank our tutors who helped us a lot.”

Their documentary, The Cut, gives an insight into the goings on in a black barbershop in Walthamstow, East London, which Akil visits regularly, focusing on the eccentric and passionate owner Gareth.

The pair saw off stiff competition from Ravensbourne, the University for the Creative Arts and Goldsmiths to take the award.

The duo’s tutor, Senior Lecturer in Media Jacqueline Lane, said: “The Cut is a very special little documentary and I was very proud to supervise and see it grow from a basic idea to the film it became. It has everything a great documentary should have; simplicity, wonderful human stories that draw you in, and Gareth is simply magnificent.”