Mackrell is celebrating the filmmaking success of Neil Emery, who has achieved film festival award success for his latest documentary film Show Up and Start: The Art and Life of Dorothy Ramsay. 

Not content with resting on his laurels, Neil has long enjoyed filming his fellwalking exploits in the Lake District alongside his busy day job as a Senior Associate in the firm’s Employment & HR department. 

Show Up and Start explores the life of Lake District-based artist Dorothy Ramsay, spanning from her post-war childhood in the northeast of England to her career as a weaver, therapist, and full-time artist. 

Show Up and Start has achieved outstanding recognition at a range of prestigious film festivals, winning Best International Short Documentary (Golden State Film Festival 2025), Best Feature Documentary (Dublin Movie Awards 2025, Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival 2025), and Documentary Feature Bronze Award (Latitude Film Awards October 2024). 

James Atton, Joint Managing Partner and Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution at Mackrell, said: “We are delighted to celebrate Neil’s latest achievements in his filmmaking career. 

“The awards he has received for Show Up and Start are testament to the passion and dedication Neil brings to his work – qualities that are no less present in his day job at Mackrell. 

“We are all immensely proud of Neil, and we can’t wait to see what he creates next!” 

Show Up and Start will feature in the Open University’s upcoming “Creativity, Creative Arts and Neurodivergence Conference” on 19-21 June. 

The film will also be screened to the public on 29 June 2025 at the Windermere Jetty Museum. 

Book tickets to the conference and find out more about Neil’s filmmaking exploits.