Martin Keady’s ‘Man of Colour’ won the acclaimed Page Turner Screenplay Award for the Feature Film category

Award-winning dramatist Keady, was announced as the winner of the international Screenplay Award for the Feature Film category at this year’s Page Turner Awards. 

The announcement was orchestrated by Starsky & Hutch’s very own Paul Michael Glaser, who presented the award to the screenwriter at the sparkling ceremony that took place virtually.

Dubbed as the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of writing awards, the Page Turner Awards offers unpublished authors and screenwriters the opportunity to send the first 10 pages of a writing project of their choice – up to 3000 words, to a jury of literary experts who in return will give them creative judgment and constructive criticism of the submitted piece of work.

The Page Turner Award is an inclusive writing and book award with one goal and one mission – to change the lives of as many writers as possible. 

Aspiring authors from all walks of life attended the virtual glitz and glamour event, some as guests, some as nominees, with some of the latter leaving as winners.

‘Man of Colour’ is a remarkable biopic of Walter Tull’s extraordinary life, highlighting his career as one of Britain’s first black professional football players, who was later forced out of the sport by racism, but later rose to become one of the greatest war heroes of World War I. 

Described by critics as a film of five stories in one, ‘Man of Colour’s’ non-fiction narrative takes the observer on a journey down memory lane to relive and celebrate the incredible story of a forgotten British hero. 

The screenplay is a coming-of-age tale, one of sport, war, and legalities, covering hardship and poverty, followed by failure meeting success. 

The biopic also won the inaugural BIFFA (Bristol Independent Film Festival Award) for Screenwriting back in 2018.

“The story of Walter Tull does not just deserve to be told; it DEMANDS to be told. And I hope that winning the Page Turner Screenplay Award will mean that demand is finally answered. I am truly indebted to the Page Turner Screenplay Award, which I hope will be instrumental in Man of Colour finally being filmed, in memory of and tribute to one of Britain’s greatest heroes, the remarkable Walter Tull.” 

Martin Keady

Tull’s transition from a sports personality plagued by racism and bigotry, to a soldier who enlisted, fought in, and survived some of the British Army’s most fatal encounters during World War I, is beyond sensational. 

His bravery and dedication throughout the war resulted in a nomination for promotion, which later saw British Army rules restricting black soldiers from becoming officers overturned after a historic court battle.  

A memorial for the Tottenham Hotspur footballer and WW1 Infantry Officer, was unveiled back in 1999, at the Sixfields Stadium, in Northampton, UK.

Keady initially discovered Tull’s spectacular story nearly fifteen years ago, when he was struggling to consummate his childhood dreams of becoming a writer in his adolescence. 

However, Tull’s story of overcoming the odds when all seemed impossible inspired Keady to persevere and continue.

Keady is now a multi-award-winning playwright, whose writing credits include a six-part animated television series with a focus on illustrating the life and legacy of William Shakespeare. The highly anticipated Saving Shakespeare is now in post-production and scheduled for release in early 2022.