Northern Soul film wins art award

Stokes' award-winning film, Long After Tonight, explores rave culture

A film about a Northern Soul music event has won the Beck's Futures award for the best young UK-based artists.

Matt Stokes made Long After Tonight in a church in Dundee, formerly a party venue for devotees of the genre.

He sought to replicate the atmosphere of the era and of the rave culture that emerged in the late 1980s, observing the way music brought people together.

He receives prize money of £20,000 and his film will be on show in London, Glasgow and Bristol until 14 May.

Stokes was born in Cornwall in 1973 and educated at Newcastle University.

'Pleasure to watch'

Yinka Shonibare, who was one of the judges, said: "Long After Tonight is such a beautiful, sensual and satisfying film, which works on many levels.

Stokes used a church in Dundee as the setting for his film

"Not only is it a pleasure to watch and socially engaging but it feels genuinely inclusive, which is important."

Joining Shonibare on the judging panel were respected artists such as Dinos and Jake Chapman, Martin Creed, Cornelia Parker and Gillian Wearing.

Beck's Futures has been running since 2000 as a means of recognising and supporting upcoming young artists.

In total, 14 artists were shortlisted for this year's prize - including one collaboration, Blood and Feathers - and each of the other nominees wins £1,500.

Their entries are currently being exhibited at the ICA in London, the CCA in Glasgow and the Arnolfini in Bristol.