Education charity, Into Film has announced that broadcaster and best-selling children’s author Konnie Huq will host the 2026 Into Film Awards on June 16th at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square.  

The awards, which celebrate young filmmaking talent from across the country, is set to be a star-studded event with guests including Jason Isaacs, Bella Ramsey, Hayley Atwell, Nick Frost, David Jonsson, Peter Capaldi and Blake Harrison attending to present the awards to young filmmakers age 5-19.

Huq is one of Britain’s most loved presenters. She was Blue Peter’s longest-serving female presenter from 1997–2008 and has since hosted shows including The Xtra Factor, Top of the Pops, King of the Nerds and Guinness World Records Smashed. A skilled interviewer, she gave J.K. Rowling her first interview and has spoken to figures ranging from Tony Blair to Malala. Konnie has presented award-winning radio documentaries and several podcasts, written children’s books and co-written on critically acclaimed TV series, Black Mirror.

Huq will oversee the Into Film Awards ceremony, which hands out awards in 13 categories, including Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best Film, Innovation in Filmmaking, Best Story and Ones to Watch.

Huq commented: “The Into Film Awards are an incredible celebration of young filmmaking talent from across the UK, and it’s a real honour to be presenting them. What I love about these awards is that they give young people a voice. Through filmmaking, they can share their experiences, express their ideas and tell stories that matter to them, helping audiences see the world from their perspective. The shortlisted films are a brilliant reminder of the creativity, imagination and teamwork that young people bring to everything they do. These awards recognise not only filmmaking talent, but also the dedication, passion and perseverance that go into bringing creative ideas to life. Film is such a powerful medium for inspiring, educating and connecting people, and I’m looking forward to celebrating these remarkable young storytellers, whose work is already making an impact.”

A familiar face to audiences across the UK, Huq has inspired a generation of young viewers over a ten-year tenure presenting BBC’s Blue Peter. Alongside her broadcasting career, Huq is an author and screenwriter. She has cowritten on Black Mirror, the groundbreaking critically acclaimed anthology television series, and has written several bestselling children’s books including Cookie and the Most Mysterious Mystery in the World. A passionate advocate for creativity, storytelling and education, she regularly works across television, film and publishing, championing opportunities for young people to develop their voices and talents.

Fiona Evans, Into Film CEO, added: “Konnie Huq has been inspiring young people through storytelling for decades, so there couldn’t be a more fitting host for this year’s Into Film Awards. From her years on Blue Peter to her work as an author and screenwriter, she has shown generations of young people the value of creativity, curiosity and imagination. Every year, the Into Film Awards showcase extraordinary talent from right across the UK, and having Konnie at the helm will make this year’s celebration even more special. Her warmth, energy and passion for storytelling make her the perfect person to help recognise the achievements of these remarkable young filmmakers.”

The Into Film Awards, sponsored by the UK film industry, showcase and highlight the wealth of tomorrow’s creative talent. Young people from across the UK whose short films have been nominated across the awards categories will be recognised at the glitzy afternoon ceremony, which has previously been attended by some of the biggest stars in the industry including Daniel Craig, Lashana Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Lily James, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton, Charles Dance, Ruth Wilson, Bill Nighy, Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman and Naomie Harris.

This year, there are 27 films nominated across 13 categories, showcasing the phenomenal breadth and depth of young filmmaking talent across the UK. These categories are voted for by the UK film industry including Barbara Broccoli, Col Needham, Elizabeth Mitchell, Gráinne McKenna and Karen Charalambous.

The awards also honour those who support and facilitate young people’s filmmaking in a new ‘Filmmaking Champion’ award and celebrate three incredible young people for their outstanding potential in their ‘Ones to Watch’ category. Plus, the ‘Audience Choice Award’, which is voted for by the public.

The 2026 Awards received hundreds of entries from across the UK, with stories ranging from light-hearted comedies to thought-provoking films and documentaries. Heart-felt topics such as being a Ukrainian refugee in Lost Youth; staying safe online in Navigating the Net; youth mental health in Seven Minutes; tips for supporting young people with special educational needs in SENDing Voices; female, Muslim identity in Unveiled Voices and socio-economic observations in My Mum’s a Cleaner.

Each year, the Into Film Awards are made possible through sponsorship from the UK Screen Industry: Amazon MGM Studios; EON Productions; IMDb; Lucas Film Ltd; Odeon; Paramount; Pinewood Studios; Shepperton Studios; Swatch; Universal Pictures; The Walt Disney Studios; Warner Bros Discovery; Working Title Films; 72 Films.

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Categories: Press Releases

Tags: Black Mirror, Blue Peter, into film, London