Fear Screen Announces Location Routes as Sponsor of The Worlds First Dedicated Location Award in Film Festival History

Fear Screen International Horror Film Festival is proud to announce Location Routes as the sponsor of a landmark new award category: the Best Location award — believed to be the first dedicated location award in the history of film festivals worldwide.

The partnership marks a pivotal moment not only for Fear Screen, but for the wider film industry, recognising a department that has long operated in the shadows of more celebrated crafts. Locations are not merely backdrops — they are characters in their own right. They establish tone, atmosphere, and narrative identity. Nowhere is this more true than in horror, where a derelict building, a fog-laden road, or an isolated stretch of coastline can be every bit as vital to a film's impact as its cast or screenplay.

"The location department is one of the most underrepresented in film," said Jay Finlayson, Founding Director of Fear Screen (An Assistant Location Manager and Scout in Major Productions and HETV). "A location is so much more than a house or a field — it sets the scene, the tone, the entire feel of a film. In horror especially, the right location doesn't just support the story; it becomes the story. It was time a film festival said that out loud, and we're proud to be the first to do so."

As the indie film sector grows and more film offices require a qualified Location Manager to access specific areas and regions, the location department is steadily carving out greater recognition beyond major studio productions and high-end television. This award exists to accelerate that shift — ensuring that independent filmmakers and their location teams receive the credit they deserve.

About Location Routes

Location Routes is a UK Film & TV Agency founded by Oliver Laurenson-Gore, a seasoned Location Manager and Scout with over a decade of experience across scripted, unscripted, and commercial productions. His credits include The Midwich Cuckoos, After Life (Series 3), The Burning Girls, The Franchise, and the critically acclaimed feature I Swear.

Specialising in "on the move" filming, Location Routes provides a curated library of film-friendly driving routes, controllable roads, and locations across the UK, alongside traffic management services, location equipment hire, and a talent agency service. The company was born from a real production challenge Oliver encountered during PIRATES (BFI/BBC Films, 2019–2020) — a road-trip film where the absence of a reliable system for scouting and presenting moving routes created costly, stressful complications on set. Location Routes was built to solve exactly that problem.

Beyond production, Oliver is a committed advocate for crew development and fair working practices. He delivers training at All Spring Media and serves on the BECTU Locations Department Committee, actively shaping policy and professional standards across the industry.

The Best Location award, sponsored by Location Routes, will be presented at Fear Screen International Horror Film Festival's Award Ceremony on the 13th November 2026..

Media Contact:
Press@FearScreen.com