AWARDS
GEAR OF THE YEAR
Rental house Hireacamera
THE WINNERS
Retailer of the year (used equipment) MPB
Retailer of the year (new equipment) CVP
SERVICES O ur service categories are for retailers – one for dealers who specialise in selling new equipment, one for those who supply used gear
MPB is leading the way in this regard, and remains a runaway winner in the used equipment category. The winner of our rental category is Hireacamera, a UK company focused on renting kit to small and mid-size productions rather than a full-size rental service that offers all the kit for a Hollywood blockbuster. For independent filmmakers, Hireacamera is just what’s needed, stocking lots of late-model cameras, lenses and accessories. The firm specialises in mirrorless and cinema cameras plus the lenses and add-ons to match. It is always the first with rental stock of the latest in-demand cameras and lenses, and you book via an easy online ordering system with real-time availability and clear pricing. So there are no nasty surprises. For professional filmmakers who need the kit to be safely and reliably delivered ready to go – fully tested and charged – Hireacamera excels. The gear is couriered to you in protective cases complete with return labels and security tags to remove all the hassle. It’s fantastic value and you always come away with fully tested, working equipment. Once again, it comes away with the best rental house gong.
It has a service centre and stocks spares to make sure you can keep shooting even if your equipment needs a bit of TLC. Meet the staff at its branches, chat to them at the biggest filmmaking and tech shows or even watch the popular YouTube channel for the latest kit news and reviews. When it comes to used equipment, MPB is clearly the biggest and best – and is our award winner for the third year running as it continues to grow and cut costs for indie filmmaking businesses. MPB has bases in the UK, Germany and the US, and simply has more stock of cameras and lenses – both current models and previous-generation – than anyone else. And all the equipment is fully tested and backed by a warranty. MPB also offers easy part-exchange or cash for your old kit. It’s the best way for a budget-conscious filmmaker to upgrade with zero hassle, all while saving serious amounts of cash and recycling used kit. MPB has revolutionised the process of buying and selling used. MPB is staffed by filmmakers with expert knowledge, and backs filmmaking and stills projects and initiatives. For the eco-minded, recirculating perfectly usable second-hand equipment makes so much sense both financially and for the planet.
and a third for rental houses. These awards recognise that great dealers don’t just sell or rent what they happen to have in stock, but listen to your needs and offer advice, workshops, fast repair and a direct line to manufacturers. They are the front line of the filmmaking industry – and vital. Keen prices are a given. But it’s the value-added bonus of choosing to spend with them that makes our winners so special. Once again, CVP is the winner of best retailer for new equipment. It’s not only the biggest, but is far from simply existing as a group of shops that sell equipment. CVP is a key part of the filmmaking industry in the UK and Europe, with expert staff who listen to your needs and come up with solutions. As it’s so big, CVP can offer try-before-you-buy services at its branches. It simply has a huge stock of new kit, demo equipment to try out, used gear for sale and rental equipment – all backed up by a slick website and customer service that keeps its fans coming back for more. CVP offers lots of events, workshops and training courses, both online and in real life.
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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