The future of the UK screen industries looked bright on June 16th as Into Film, the UK’s leading charity for film in education, announced the winners of the 2026  Into Film Awards, with Jason Isaacs, Hayley Atwell, Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker, Peter Capaldi, Bella Ramsey, Blake Harrison, Nabhaan Rizwan, Chloe Lea, Izzy Meikle-Small, Christopher Chung, Harry Collett, Misan Harriman and David Jonsson  among a wealth of acting and industry talent presenting awards to this year’s young winners at the prestigious Into Film Awards ceremony at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square today.

Award-winning broadcaster and best-selling children’s author Konnie Huq hosted the awards which honoured the most inspiring and original short films created by young people aged 5–19 from around the UK, across 13 different categories.

“The talent out there is both refreshing and inspiring, especially when living in such uncertain, progressive and fast-moving times. Nurturing empathy is so important, and knowing it exists in such liberal doses in these talented young story tellers is just great.” said Huq.

Into Film CEO, Fiona Evans commented: “Today’s Into Film Awards is the UK’s most prestigious showcase for young filmmakers, backed by leaders from across the industry. Each year we receive hundreds of brilliant entries and for every young filmmaker walking the red carpet today, the Awards will be a life-changing experience. We are also thrilled to see the Awards and the broader work of Into Film recognised in Government’s new enrichment entitlement released this week. We welcome the entitlement as an important and positive step for young people because access to creative and cultural experiences should not be for a lucky minority, but a fundamental part of every child’s education. Film is uniquely placed to enrich and support media literacy, critical thinking and wellbeing, in ways that are engaging and helps them better understand others and the world around them. The incredible young people and educators recognised at this year’s Awards show what can be achieved when schools, creative industries, charities and government all work together to give children the opportunity to express themselves.”

Eric Fellner, Into Film Chair and Co-Chairman of Working Title Films, commented: “As the UK’s leading showcase for young filmmaking talent, today’s Into Film Awards brought the screen and education sectors together in recognition of the brilliant films shortlisted. We believe passionately in a world where AI is increasing its presence that creativity should be a fundamental part of very child’s education, and we welcome the Government’s renewed commitment to providing a framework and benchmarks for how enrichment is delivered in schools. We, at Into Film, look forward to continuing our work in thousands of schools across the UK which will also support this vital initiative.”

The Into Film Awards nominated short films provide a fascinating and invaluable insight into the things that are important to young people. In an increasingly fast-moving and ever-changing world, it’s never been more important to support young people to use their voices and utilise film to tell not only their own stories, but to address the things that matter to them.

The nominated films addressed bold and heart-felt topics such as female Muslim identity, socio-economic difference, understanding special educational needs, staying safe online, youth mental health, LGBTQ+ acceptance, cultural identity, and the lived experiences of refugees.  This year’s awards saw record-breaking submissions across the categories, which included two new categories – Innovation in Filmmaking, showcasing impressive feats of creativity and technical prowess, and Best Film Review shining a spotlight on budding wordsmiths.

With high-profile ambassadors including Sir Kenneth Branagh; Lashana Lynch; Eddie Redmayne; Jack Lowden; Amma Asante; Lynwen Brennan and Jamie Dornan, Into Film, the UK’s leading charity for film in education, continues to bridge the gap between classroom and screen, championing the next generation of film industry talent from every corner of the UK.

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.

INTO FILM AWARDS WINNERS:

• Best Animation – 5-11 (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)

The Letter

Made by a class of 30 young people aged 9-10 from Caedraw Primary School – Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

This striking monochrome animation is a follow-up to a previously nominated film, and sees Cae the Bear – now much older – feeling lonely since his son has left home. Deciding to reach out, he writes him a letter, but when it comes to posting it, that simple act turns into a bigger ordeal than he could ever have imagined.

• Best Animation – 12-19 (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)

Mr X is Not a Man 

Made by Noah (19) and Yuli, aged 16 – Bristol, England

This gorgeous, impressionistic and ethereal animation sees a disaffected office worker heading out into the night in search of a more spiritual existence.

• Best Review (Sponsored by IMDb)

No Country for Old Men (2007) 

By Hailey, aged 17 – Herford, England

“I’ve always loved film for how it communicates emotion, perspective and social ideas, and discussing films has always been something I’ve grown up with”. 

• Best Film – 5-11 (Sponsored by Pinewood and Shepperton Studios)

Paper Planes

Made by Jude (aged 9) and Fletcher (aged 11) – Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England

This coming-of-age drama about childhood struggles and finding yourself sees young Sebastian finding growing up difficult… until he meets a cool kid at a local art gallery and learns about life, friendship and making paper planes as they explore the Northumberland coast before making a surprising discovery.

• Best Film – 12-15 (Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery))

Dog Days – The Final Whistle

Made by 23 young people from 8SUS at St. Colmcille’s High School – Crossgar, Northern Ireland

This heart-warming sports comedy sees a young lad distraught when he learns his dog is sick and requires a very expensive medicine. So when the annual long-kick competition returns with a £10,000 prize it seems his prayers are answered if only he can find it within himself to score the decisive kick.

• Best Film – 16-19 (Sponsored by Paramount)

What’s in a Bowl?

Made by six young people working with Screen Education Edinburgh and BFI Film Academy – Edinburgh, Scotland

This resonant short film follows a young Chinese immigrant living in Edinburgh who is struggling with homesickness and feelings of belonging. With his beloved late grandmother’s words and memories still alive in his mind, he sets out to recreate her classic noodle dish in the hopes of rekindling his sense of home.

• Innovation in Filmmaking (Sponsored by Lucas Film Ltd)

Give it Up!

Made by Alexander Bigaliy (aged 18) and Arseniy (aged 14) – Guildford, England

Vividly blending live action footage with LEGO stop motion, and black and white with colour, this is a cinematic tour-de-force that eschews traditional narrative to tap into existentialism, surrealism, and classic German expressionism, with a Kafkaesque nightmare of a man trying to escape a liminal city that exists outside of time and space.

• Time for Action (Sponsored by Swatch)

SENDing Voices

Made by SENDing Voices, working with My Pockets – Sheffield, England

This delightfully animated film was made by a group of young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) who meet regularly as part of an action group called ‘SENDing Voices’. Their film sees five members of the group explaining various experiences they’ve had both positive and negative and reminds the audience of the difficulties that young people with SEND have on a daily basis. The film’s upbeat message clearly outlines the ways that with additional support and simple considerations, all of us can help ease those difficulties.

• Best Documentary (Sponsored by 72 Films)

Unveiled Voices

Made by 14 young people from Working Class Film School – Manchester, England

This documentary explores what being brown and female means to a group of young Muslims from Oldham. Interviews with group and community members explore ‘brown’ as something not only linked to colour or ethnicity, while also challenging gender expectations that determine what women can and can’t do.

• Best Story (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios)

Nominees in this category were selected from among all the films submitted to this year’s Into Film Awards, across all categories

Lost Youth

Made by Anna, with Eva, Vlad, and Platon – Bradford-on-Avon, England

This film, made by a Ukrainian refugee, honours the memory of Anastasia Porokhnya, a 17-year-old girl who was killed by a Russian cluster munitions in her backyard in 2022. Through the film, Anna channels her own journey and gives voice to the pain, resilience and loss that young people like her carry. With an ambitious and striking extended conversation filmed in one shot as the centrepiece, this film is a testimony to what many refugees have lived through and a tribute to those lost along the way.

• Audience Choice Award (Sponsored by Universal Pictures International)

Seven Minutes

The winner in this category was decided through an audience vote across Into Film’s social media channels.

Made by Venice Lyn-Kew, aged 18 – Wolverhampton, England

This film takes a fascinating approach to the sobering subject of teenage mental health and suicide, exploring the idea of one’s life ‘flashing before your eyes’ in your final moments as memories replay. Taking us on a journey through the different parts of the brain, from hippocampus to the pre-frontal cortex, the film cleverly shows the way even the smallest memories are proof of a life still unfolding and worth holding on to, taking a creative approach to the simple truth that help is always within reach, and that every story deserves the chance to continue.

• Ones To Watch (Sponsored by EON Productions)

The following are all Into Film Awards 2026 Ones to Watch

Araminta, aged 17 – Conwy, Wales

Araminta has a love of film so strong that she claims the only way to possibly satisfy it is to make films of her own. She started making films at 16, filming highlight reels for her church. She made her first film with her best friends (Beware The Zoomies) and her love of film snowballed from there. With a strong work-ethic, Araminta has worked part-time with her dad at his production company Rocketland Ltd since the age of 14, where she has practised everything from scriptwriting, to setting-up gear, holding the camera, focus pulling, and even handled some projects from start to finish, working with clients.

Araminta’s drive is clear: instead of finding a part time job to pay for college, she asked around and got a remote job editing social media reels for a family friend, which paid for her expenses every month. She’s also found work doing photoshoots and filming weddings and concerts. To Araminta, any career path is pointless unless there’s a way it can bring some good to the world evidenced by her film Tipping Point winning the Time For Action category at the Into Film Awards 2025. Araminta is very determined when it comes to following her dreams, and has plans to use the art of film to make our world a better place. We’d say she’s well on her way.

Noah Berridge, aged 19 – Bristol, England

Noah is an extraordinary young filmmaker whose work has already reached millions, won international awards, and demonstrated a maturity far beyond his age. He has been making films since he was 11 years old, and has created over 30 short films, organically amassing over 2 million views on YouTube and growing an audience of 18,000 subscribers. He was accepted into the BFI Film Academy, and earlier this year, was selected from 300+ applicants to direct a film at the NFTS Academy, in partnership with Disney. He worked over two weeks with a team of young creatives to tell a story about a transgender experience. The film was screened at the Curzon cinema in Soho.

Noah has also very recently been accepted into the NFTS Creator Incubator – selected for one of 12 scholarship places fully paid for by YouTube, fending off competition from adults much further into their filmmaking careers. Noah is fully committed to filmmaking; it’s what he wants to dedicate his life to. His dream is to have a career ‘creating films that have an impact and use the power of storytelling to create positive change.’ The remarkable quality of his films, from such a young age, along with his work ethic, ever-growing passion for filmmaking, and high ambitions, make Noah a clear One to Watch.

Rosie, aged 17, from Varndean College – Brighton, England

Rosie is notable for the exceptional quality, maturity and consistency of her filmmaking, alongside clear evidence of national and international recognition for her work. Through her filmmaking, Rosie has demonstrated a strong authorial voice and an ability to handle complex themes with sensitivity and clarity. Her short film The Freedom of the Sea achieved significant success, both internationally and at home, including Best Documentary at the Into Film Awards 2025. She has continued to build on this success with subsequent work, which has been submitted and considered to numerous film festivals and competitions. This sustained recognition across youth and professional-facing festivals marks her out as an emerging filmmaker with genuine momentum.

Rosie’s ability to combine strong visual storytelling with emotional intelligence leads to films that are thoughtful, purposeful and audience-aware. Her work shows a clear progression in confidence and ambition, and her showreel demonstrates versatility across form and subject matter. Rosie aspires to continue developing as a filmmaker beyond education, building a portfolio that engages with real-world issues and meaningful storytelling. Her achievements to date, combined with her commitment to growth and creative risk-taking, mark her out as a young filmmaker with significant future potential and a clear trajectory within the industry.

• Filmmaking Champions (Sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd.)

The following are all Into Film Awards 2025 Filmmaking Champions 

Ash Williams from Burnham Market Primary School – Norfolk, England

Working across rural north and west Norfolk over the past 15 years, Ash creates meaningful filmmaking opportunities for young people through curriculum-based learning and volunteer projects, all in an area that faces significant challenges linked to rural deprivation and geographic isolation.

As Senior Teacher at Burnham Market Primary School, Ash has worked to place filmmaking at the very heart of the school’s ethos. Every class has regular opportunities to create and share their own films, not just within the classroom, but at school celebrations and on public platforms. He has overseen a culture change at the whole school and ensured a long-term legacy, leading staff training sessions to show colleagues how film can transform learning across the curriculum and bringing in media experts to enhance learning. The school is now even developing a permanent film studio space.

Through embedding filmmaking across the curriculum in his school, as well as acting as Director of the Fakenham Film Festival, Ash is actively broadening horizons and showcasing the wide range of roles within the screen industries, raising aspirations for hundreds of young people in an area with limited access to cultural institutions.

Ben Gregory from Yr Orsaf / Dyffryn Nantlle 2020 – Penygroes, Wales

Ben’s film club works with young people who live in Dyffryn Nantlle, a rural area in northwest Wales where people face challenges with a lack of resources and creative opportunities in the Welsh language.

His relentless work to secure sustainable opportunities for young people is impressive. Since starting the club in 2013, Ben has helped run sessions to produce 18 films while working with over a hundred young people. The resulting films have been nominated and won awards at Pics Film Festival in Caernarfon, Zoom Cymru in South Wales, and the Into Film Awards. Over a decade of activity, he has made sure that there is a long-term platform for young people of the area to come together and create films in the Welsh Language, while also running clubs with all-female groups, in an effort to push more girls towards filmmaking.

Young people from the first group that Ben worked with over a decade ago have since gone on to achieve jobs in media, film and TV, and have credited the film club as the place that ignited their passion for the arts. They have also begun mentoring the next generation, ensuring that Ben’s work has a lasting legacy.

Sophie Barnard and Will Davies from The Bright Foundation – Hastings, England

The Bright Foundation is an arts education charity founded by Academy and BAFTA Award winning costume designer, John Bright. Will is the Film Programme Learning Leader, and Sophie is the Foundation’s Producer. They work in-and-around Hastings and East Sussex, and focus on programmes for disadvantaged children and young people, such as those in receipt of free school meals; neurodiverse young people; those with special educational needs, or those in case or at risk of school refusal.

At the Foundation’s Benbow Arts Space (a youth arts centre dedicated to the art of filmmaking), Will and Sophie have engaged over 500 children and young people. They have built a warm and welcoming atmosphere and with passion, good humour and a can-do attitude they work tirelessly to allow individuals to grow and develop: finding their creative voices; learning new skills both on the technical side of filmmaking and the creative development; building their confidence; understanding the industry and career pathways; and most importantly, having fun.

Their unwavering commitment to young people and their ambition to give them the most amazing creative learning experiences possible makes them an invaluable part of their community.

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