London-based actor and producer Dywayne Thomas has earned several film-related awards and nominations for his work in independent cinema and production.
Key Film Awards & Recognition
Top Wins: Recognized as Film Producer of the Year (2024) and Actor & Producer of the Year (UK) (2022/2023).
Festival Success: Reloaded 2 won Best Action/Crime at The Gladiator Film Festival and David Film Festival (2023-2024).
Recent Accolades: Won Most Technically Excellent for City Rush 4 at the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (2025).
Nominations: Reloaded 2 received nods at the Universal Film Festival, LIFT-Off Sessions, and ONED Art/Experimental Film Festival (2024).
Punching Bag received three nominations at the Birmingham Film Festival.
Industry Recognition: Executive produced Sister Wives, which was long-listed for Oscars, BAFTA, and BIFA (97th Academy Awards).
Background: Previously achieved multiple National, English, and British Karate Championship titles.

Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts
2020
CCU Institute

Dywayne Thomas received an Honorary Doctor of Performing Arts degree in recognition of his creativity in the arts.

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2016
LADC Institute

Dywayne Thomas received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) degree in recognition of intellectual and moral advancement.

London Talkback Radio Young People's Art Awards 1990December 1990
London Talkback Radio

Artist Dywayne Thomas was awarded a top prize in a drawing competition run by London Talkback Radio.
All entrants were tasked to design a poster on the theme "Christmas and Radio."
He was presented with his award/cheque at a special ceremony at the radio station's HQ by DJ Steve Allen and the award winning author and children's book illustrator, Mick Inkpen, on the Steve Allen Show.

Dywayne receiving his prize from artist, Mick Inkpen.

THE KARATE YEARS

Dywayne Thomas is a British Karateka, actor and producer. He has a black belt in Karate and is a winner of multiple National, English and British Karate Championship awards. He is a former Junior British Individual and Team Kata Champion, who represented the Traditional Karate Association (TKA) London Goju Ryu team between 1987 and 1992.
In the early 1980s Thomas had commenced training on a daily basis in Judo from adolescence with a very distinguished teacher only to later on realise that it wasn't the right martial art for him. A few years later, in January 1985, he began learning Goju-ryu karate under the instruction of Shihan Chris Rowen, 7th dan, who was a 3rd dan Sensei at the time and also a student of Kaiso (Founder) Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th dan. Yamaguchi sadly passed away on May 20th, 1989. He is the founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association.
In 1987 Thomas was graded to Shodan (1st Dan) Junior Black belt by Shihan Chris Rowen. Shihan Rowen would occasionally invite special guest instructors over to train his students in Okinawan and Japanese Goju-Ryu Karate. Thomas would've also received specialist instruction from Goju Kai masters, Shihan Ingo de Jong of Sweden (Vice-President of the International Karate-do Goju Kai Association) and Saiko Shihan (Grand Master) Goshi Yamaguchi (8th Dan, Hanshi) of Japan, who is the current President of the International Karate-dō Gōjū Kai Association.
Thomas took a break from competing and training in 1992 to focus more on his academic studies. After a two year gap, in 1994, he returned to Karate training under the instruction of Shihan Vic Charles MBE where he was taught Wado-ryu Karate at the N-16 Fitness Centre, opened by Charles in 1992, in the heart of Stoke Newington, Hackney.
Since retiring from Karate competitions, Thomas has endured a brief stint in the British Army as a Signaller, worked in the private security industry as a Close Protection Operative. He is currently focusing on his acting and filmmaking career.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND TOURNAMENT RECORDS AS KARATEKA AND COMPETITOR

Martial Art: Karate
Style(s): Goju-Ryu/Goju-Kai
Grade: 1st Dan Junior Black Belt

KARATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS

January 18th 1985 - Started training in (Goju-Ryu) traditional karate.
March 18th 1985 - Graded to Junior Yellow belt, 7th kyu.
September 28th 1985 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Kata 1st.
September 28th 1985 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Team Kata 1st.
October 23rd 1985 - Graded to Junior Green belt, 6th kyu.
August 17th 1986 - Graded to Junior Green belt, 4th kyu.
September 1986 - British Karate Goju-Kai National Championships, Basildon, Essex, Junior Team Kata 3rd.
January 15th 1987 - Graded to Junior Brown belt, 3rd kyu.
March 1st 1987 - English Karate Council (EKC) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist.
May 24th 1987 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Wapping, London, Cadets Kata 4th.
July 31st 1987 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Greenwich, London, Boys 8-11 years Kata 1st.
July 31st 1987 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Greenwich, London, Junior Team Kata 1st.
August 23rd 1987 - B.A.S.K.A. Pickett’s Lock, London, Under 21s Cadets Kata 3rd.
September 24th 1987 - Graded to Junior Black Belt (Shodan) 1st Dan.
September 27th 1987 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist
September 27th 1987 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata Finalist.
November1st1987 -The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry, Cadets Kata 3rd.
November 15th 1987 - B.M.A.F. Loughton, Essex, Mixed Kata 1st.
November 22nd 1987 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist.
November 22nd 1987 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 3rd.
November 29th 1987 - U.K.A.S.K.O. Open Championships, Manchester, Pee Wee Kata 3rd.
February 21st 1988 - B.A.S.K.A. Pickett’sLock, London, Mixed Cadets Kata 1st.
February 28th 1988 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, CrystalPalace, Junior Kata 3rd.
March 19th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Brentford, London, Cadets Kata 3rd.
April 9th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Manchester, Cadets Kata 3rd.
May 14th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Carlisle, Cadets Kata 4th.
June 18th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Newport, Wales, Cadets Kata 2nd.
July 29th 1988 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Blackheath, London, Boys 8-11 years Kata 1st.
July 29th 1988 - Greenwich Resource Association For Martial Arts (G.R.A.F.M.A) Open Championship, Blackheath, London, Boys Team Kata 1st.
September 11th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Thornaby-On-Tees, Cadets Kata 4th.
October 9th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Renfrew, Scotland, Cadets Kata 1st.
October 30th 1988 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry Sport Centre, Cadets Kata 4th.
November 6th 1988 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata Semi-Finalist.
November 6th 1988 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 2nd.
November 27th 1988 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 3rd.
December 4h 1988 - F.S.K. National Championships, Manchester, Cadets Kata 3rd.
February 26th 1989 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, Crystal Palace, Junior Kata Semi-Finalist.
February 26th 1989 - English Karate Council (EKC) Black Belt Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 4th.
April 12th 1989 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Coventry Sports Centre, Cadets Kata 3rd.
May 28th 1989 - The British Karate Grand Prix (BKGP) Harrow, London, Cadets Kata 1st.
1989 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Kata 1st
1989 - Federation of English Karate Organisations (F.E.K.O.) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Cadets Team Kata 1st.
1989 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 3rd
1990 - British Karate Federation (BKF) National Championships, Crystal Palace, Team Kata 3rd.

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