We’re excited to welcome a new partner to the BMVA family: MPB, presenting the Best Low Budget category for the 2026 edition.
MPB is Europe’s top camera reseller, and for over 15 years they’ve been revolutionising the way people buy, sell, and trade photo and video equipment.
Their mission is to open up the world of visual storytelling in a way that’s good for people and the planet, by giving used camera gear a second life instead of going to waste, and so making it sustainable, more affordable and accessible to emerging filmmakers who’d otherwise be priced out.
That mission is what made this partnership click for us.
Why Best Low Budget?
The Best Low Budget category recognises directors who deliver something exceptional on a budget under €8,000 (approx). It’s a category that rewards resourcefulness and creative problem-solving, and year after year it includes some of the most inventive work of the festival.
MPB is a natural fit for this category. By recirculating over 615,000 pieces of used gear annually, they extend the lifespan and creative potential of professional equipment and make it more accessible and affordable for the creators who need it. Their work is built on the idea that you don’t need a brand-new kit to make great work, which is essentially what this category celebrates too.
Shared values
MPB’s partnership principles are accessibility, diversity, and sustainability. They’re passionate about providing better access to the visual storytelling industry, making the field more inclusive for underrepresented voices, and changing attitudes towards circularity and climate action. These values shape how MPB operates as a business, and they sit close to what we care about at BMVA.
The winner of Best Low Budget powered by MPB will take home their trophy alongside a €1,000 MPB voucher to put towards their next project. The winner of the category will also compete in the next stage for the golden trophy of the Best Music Video.
We’re proud to have MPB on board for 2026, and there’s more to come from this partnership very soon. And if you are in the market for some new gear, make sure to explore MPB first.
Join us on 11th-13th of June at Gretchen Club – we’ve got plenty of surprises waiting!
