A BROOK Green documentary maker has won the Evening Standard film award at the age of 87 and more than 50 years after he shot his winning films.

John Krish beat off stiff competition to the prize including films by famous industry names such as Julien Temple and Banksy.

As a result, the Phoenix Cinema will show four of his most acclaimed efforts followed by a Q&A, hosted by BBC broadcaster Clive Coleman on June 5.

During John’s early career at the British Transport Film Unit (BTFU) he was ordered to photograph London Transport’s chairman shaking hands with the driver of the city’s last tram at New Cross Bus Depot.

This event sparked the idea behind The Elephant Never Forgets, a film about trams that John’s editor strongly opposed.

When John defied his boss’ wishes and made the film anyway, he was sacked from the BTFU in 1952.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. "My career really took off from there and it became one of my most successful and popular documentaries."

John joined the BBC when its studios in Shepherd’s Bush opened and embarked on a series of 30-minute social documentaries about British life, art and culture.

More than forty years later the British Film Institute collated a commemorative DVD of post-war Britain which included the A Day in the Life series, and these rediscovered films received rave reviews – later winning the newspaper award.

John said: "It is extraordinary that I have been recognised for my work after all these years. I am of course very proud of this wonderful and unexpected prize.”

The witty film-maker said that at the presentation ceremony last month, after hearing the winner for best actor ‘waffle on’, he vowed to keep his acceptance short and sweet.

“The BFI discovered me when I was 80. The critics discovered me when I was 87, and this (raising the trophy) is better than an obituary,” was that very speech.

Over the years John has looked up to producers such as Humphrey Jennings, whom he assisted in the early years. A lot has changed since then.

“The word documentary has become meaningless,” John said. “Nowadays they all have to have a celebrity in them.

"If you put a celebrity in front of a camera in front of a slum, it becomes about the celebrity’s reaction to the slum rather than the slum itself. I think it’s pathetic.”

Other works by John that will be screened in June include They Took Us to the Sea, following a group of mistreated children on day trip to the seaside and Our School which documents a secondary school.

The final film, I Think They Call Him John, is a deeply moving account of a widower who lives alone.

John explained: “It’s about making people feel guilty for ignoring that old man who lives on their street.”

The four films span eleven years of the universally-praised producer’s life and are sure to draw in the crowds.

Proceeds from the special screening will go towards his granddaughter’s trip to Uganda where she will teach at a rural school for one year.

Jessie Krish, 18, who is currently studying for her A-levels will be working voluntarily for The Project Trust, a charity that organises gap year voluntary trips to deprived areas.

Tickets for the screening cost £7.50 (concessions £6), to book call the box office on 020 8444 6789.