Leading film education charity, Into Film, has today announced this year’s Into Film Awards nominees including three nominations for filmmakers and filmmaking teams based in Scotland.
Nominated for the Time for Action Award (Sponsored by Swatch) are 8 young people aged 16-19 from CITADEL YOUTH CENTRE, Leith for the film Can we talk about Mental Health.
The filmmakers are Holly Watson (18), Nyah Sallan (16), Sophie Hunter Little (16), Brian Hainey (17), Levi Bennet (18), Ellie Pullar (18), Joshua Moohan (19), Jack Fyffe (18).
This call to action film utilises many different kinds of animation to highlight not only the mental health struggles that many young people face, but to also address the systemic difficulties that exist in trying to access support. In the young people’s own voices this is a direct plea asking all of us, from teachers to government ministers, to do better.
Nominated for the Best Film – 16-19 (Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery) are 9 filmmakers aged 17-19 from West Pilton’s SCREEN EDUCATION EDINBURGH for the film Come Inside.
The filmmakers are Aaron McCrossan (19), Allair Ayeni (18), Ben Emmel (18) CJ Reeder (17), Emma White (18), Jasmine Mooney (17), Kirk Kerrane (18), Lili Quigley (19) and Albie Kerlaff (17).
In this deeply affecting drama, a young woman named Mia tries her best to take her of ailing father, who is suffering from early-onset dementia, his memory and mental faculties diminishing by the day.
Nominated for Best Story (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios) is 14 year old Edward Ryan from Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway for the film More Than One Way to Go Home.
Inspired by the filmmaker’s own personal experiences, this film follows a young autistic girl, who has to find her own way home when her brother leaves her to fend for herself. A well shot film that conveys some of the difficulties that autistic people might experience. Nominees in this category were selected from among all of the films submitted to this year’s Into Film Awards, across all categories
The Awards, sponsored by the UK film industry, celebrate young people’s creativity in film, showcasing and highlighting 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 a 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’s nominated films cover a wide range of compelling and timely subjects for young people including mental health, the war in Ukraine, gender identity, neurodivergence, multiculturism, the potential harms of AI, feeling disconnected and isolated in modern society, nature conservation, immigration and identity, looking after an unwell parent, the need to stop scrolling on social media, and much more.
The nominees have been recognised across 11 awards categories in different age groups and the winners will be announced and presented with their awards by stars of the film and entertainment industry at the afternoon ceremony at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, on June 24 in London.
The award ceremony will be hosted by BAFTA Breakthrough Brit, BAFTA TV winner, actor, presenter and author Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE.
This year’s Into Film Awards received an unprecedented number of film entries from children and young people across the UK. Into Film believes that every child should be given the chance to learn hands-on filmmaking skills and be able to tell their own stories in film, which is the central aim of its Young Creatives programme, supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.
14 year old Edward Ryan has said: “I’m over the moon to have been nominated, I feel very happy that my film has been chosen for the Best Story category.
“It makes it feel like all the hard work has been worth it. Filmmaking is important to me because I enjoy it and it allows me to express myself in ways I was unable to before.”
17 year old Albie Kerlaff, part of the Screen Education Edinburgh filmmaking team, said: “I’m extremely excited that Come Inside has been selected — there aren’t enough opportunities like the Into Film Awards, so being part of this feels very special.
“I felt like Scorsese for a minute… then spilled my drink on my T-shirt, which brought me back down a bit! Films, to me, are a little like sandboxes where I can explore and play with emotions. Both watching and making films have been a constant way for me to process my feelings since I was small, and I hope they always will be.”
Lesley Williamson of Citadel Youth Centre has said: “We are thrilled to be nominated for this award. This is a great achievement for the young people involved.
“This film speaks from the young people’s hearts and is very open, honest and raw. All the young people involved have never had the opportunity to create a film before, and the fact they chose this outlet to discuss their mental health and the (lack of) support offered to them regarding their mental health says a lot about the film making process and how it can bring people together.
“This film discusses the mental health crisis, support available for young people and how they are made to feel regarding government funding allocation. At a time where third sector organisations are facing substantial cuts to their funding (we personally have faced a 72% funding cut from Edinburgh Council), this film was organically created by the young people expressing their views and how this impacts them.
“This topic is important to the young filmmakers as it speaks about issues that are close to them and is an honest representation of how they have been made to feel.
“All the young film makers involved are from homes that face low income, poverty, areas of deprivation and struggles with their mental health so this is a true representation of how young people are impacted by socio-economic differences.”
Actor, Presenter, author and host of this year’s awards Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE has said: “I am really honoured to be the 2025 Into Film Awards host and I am so impressed with the creativity and brilliance of all the young people involved.
“The standard of the nominated films is extraordinarily high and just shows how important it is to give young people a voice through filmmaking.”
Rose is a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and a BAFTA TV winner, and she recently won an RTS and a Broadcast award for her work as the first deaf presenter of live sport hosted at the 2024 Paralympics; her stage debut in As You Like it was has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award and won the Stage Debut Award and she is the recipient of the Visionary Honours for Inspirational Person of the Year.
This year alone has already seen her front her second documentary for the BBC, release her first children’s book Marvellous Messages and appear in critically acclaimed BBC drama Reunion. Next, she will next guest star in an episode of Dr Who and lead ITV drama Code of Silence on 18th May.
THE NOMINEES ARE:
Best Animation – 5-11 (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)
Cae yr Arth (Cae the Bear)
Made by a class of 30 young people aged 9-10 from Caedraw Primary School – Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Feeling disillusioned by life in a bustling city, a kindly bear stumbles upon a rare piece of nature, and decides to try and help it flourish. But despite his best efforts, the big city may not be the right environment…
Offline Virus
Made by Dulcie-Bella, aged 11 – Banbury, England
Animated in a striking Japanese-influenced manga style, this vibrant music video shows a social media-obsessed girl losing all of her colour and vitality as she spends too much time online.
The Wellington Cobbler and Wrekin Giant
Made by 23 young people aged 8-11 from the film club at Meadows Primary School and Nursery – Ketley, England
Visible from their own film club window, this stop motion animation depicts the myth of how The Wrekin, a famous hill in Shropshire, was supposedly formed, by way of a clever shoe repairman and a fiendish giant…
Best Animation – 12-19 (Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)
And Then What?
Made by Evie, aged 18 – Croydon, England
Created with animation software Blender, this short 3D animation is a cautionary tale about pervasive social media and the risk of jumping to conclusions, as two friends discuss a classic case of crossed wires.
Animated Voices
Made by 10 young people aged 13-14 working with Gritty Realism Productions – Cardiff, Wales
Made by young people living in Cardiff that hail from ethnic minority backgrounds, this animation sees them exploring their personal experiences of life in the UK, in their own words, and using their own animation.
Mouse House
Made by Katie, aged 16, from Pate’s Grammar School – Cheltenham, England
In this charming stop motion animation for all ages, a family of mice set out for a local allotment in search of food, only to return home and find that one of their number has been left behind to fend for himself. Will he ever make it back home to the Mouse House?
Best Documentary (Sponsored by IMDb)
The Freedom of the Sea
Made by Rosie, age 17, from Varndean College – Brighton, England
Having emigrated in the wake of the Iranian revolution in the 1970s, one family – now long-settled in Brighton – discuss the difficult decision to leave their home, and the way being able to swim in the sea together is a perfect encapsulation of the freedom they found in the UK.
Kicking through Transition
Made by Indy, aged 15 – Woking, England
A teenager named Indy reminisces about his decision to come out as trans, and how that decision went on to affect his passion for playing football and his love of the beautiful game.
Mariupol
Made by Daria Savchenko, aged 18, from Gower College – Swansea, Wales
This affecting documentary sees one woman recounting her harrowing experiences in Mariupol, Ukraine, as the Russian invasion unexpectedly turned her life upside down. And though she’s now settled in Swansea, Wales, her testimony demonstrates the extreme and enduring trauma that many survivors continue to face.
Time for Action (Sponsored by Swatch)
Can we talk about Mental Health
Made by 8 young people aged 16-19 from Citadel Youth Centre – Edinburgh, Scotland
This call to action utilises many different kinds of animation to highlight not only the mental health struggles that many young people face, but to also address the systemic difficulties that exist in trying to access support. In the young people’s own voices this is a direct plea asking all of us, from teachers to government ministers, to do better.
Severn Wild
Made by 18 young people aged 16-19 working with MediaActive Projects and BFI Film Academy – Wem, England
This lyrical film is an impassioned plea to protect our country’s rivers, using beautiful animation, historical materials, and a poetic script to detail the far-reaching and catastrophic effects that humanity and civilisation have had on the River Severn, but also highlighting hopeful plans to restore the river and return it to a more natural state.
Tipping Point
Made by Araminta, aged 16 – Conwy, Wales
A short film that nevertheless packs a mighty punch, this is a stark wake-up call for anyone who’s ever found themselves spending hours mindlessly scrolling on their phone; a film with a vital message, urging and reminding us all to live our lives to the fullest.
Best Film – 5-11 (Sponsored by Working Title Films)
Ballet d’Or
Made by Fletcher, aged 11, and Jude, aged 9 – Newcastle, England
Eight year old Frankie finds himself caught between two passions when he contemplates quitting ballet to focus on football, until he makes a surprising discovery about his football coach that changes everything.
S.I. – Superficial Intelligence
Made by 20 young people aged 10-11 from Burnham Market Primary School – Burnham Market, England
Worried by the amount of homework they’ve been given, two children build their own deep thinking artificial intelligence robot named S.I. to complete all their homework for them. However, the more S.I. learns, the more out of control it seems to become…
Ynyr yr Ysbryd (Ynyr the Ghost)
Made by Briall (aged 10), Celt (10), Elai (9) and Fflur (10), from Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle – Penygroes, Wales
When a young boy named Ynyr wakes up as a ghost, he finds that the experience isn’t as fun as he might have imagined. And when he’s interviewed for the local news channel about his lonely new existence, he draws the attention of the Council of Ghosts… can they help him find his place?
Best Film – 12-15 (Sponsored by Paramount Pictures)
Daydreaming
Made by 24 young people aged 11-14 from Sawston Village College – Cambridge, England
Seemingly caught daydreaming in their classes, we see the inner thoughts of three pupils. Between a meeting with artist Frida Kahlo, an encounter with Isaac Newton, and even a trip back in time to the Battle of Hastings, it’s clear that vacant looks and blank faces in the classroom may not always be telling the whole story!
Superhero School
Made by 11 young people aged 12-13 from Park School – Belfast, Northern Ireland
In a school for superheroes, the rivalry between Speedy and Quicklight usually ends with Speedy in front. However, that all changes when Quicklight steals Speedy’s superpowered trainers. Can the class of colourful heroes band together to help Speedy regain his powers?
Vacation
Made by Indi, aged 15 – Waterlooville, England
Bored out of his mind, a teenage boy finds himself captivated by a mysterious new video game. As he becomes increasingly hooked, he finds that eating, hygiene, and all other aspects of life simply fade away, until a concerned neighbour finally comes to check on him. But not all is as it seems…
Best Film – 16-19 (Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery)
Beware the Zoomies: An Unsolved Mystery
Made by Araminta, Cole, Micah, and Ethan – Conwy, Wales
In this pitch-perfect and very funny documentary pastiche, one poor girl’s unfortunate case of ‘the zoomies’ is explored by a doctor, her two long-suffering friends, and the uncontrollably energetic victim herself.
Come Inside
Made by 9 filmmakers aged 17-19 from Screen Education Edinburgh – Edinburgh, Scotland
In this deeply affecting drama, a young woman named Mia tries her best to take her of ailing father, who is suffering from early-onset dementia, his memory and mental faculties diminishing by the day.
No Dice
Made by Grace Holt, aged 19, from Wales High School – Sheffield, England
Four people of a certain age embark on an epic fantasy adventure by virtue of a role playing board game in this hilarious comedy that makes great use of special effects, and shows that there’s no age limit on having fun.
Best Story (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios)
Nominees in this category were selected from among all of the films submitted to this year’s Into Film Awards, across all categories
Deadlines
Made by Ben Melocha, aged 19 – Leicester, England
As the work piles up, a put-upon office worker lashes out and discovers something sinister and unsettling about her office computer. This smart, David Cronenberg-inspired horror taps into modern insecurities around AI and the replaceability of humans in the face of ever-advancing machines, as well as commenting on the faceless, sterile nature of some corporate jobs, and the mental health struggles that can arise when the pressures of work become overwhelming.
More Than One Way to Go Home
Made by Edward, aged 14 – Sanquhar, Scotland
Inspired by the filmmaker’s own personal experiences, this film follows a young autistic girl, who has to find her own way home when her brother leaves her to fend for herself. A well shot film that conveys some of the difficulties that autistic people can face, and demonstrates how the right support can be key to overcoming those challenges.
Tragicake
Made by a group of 10 young people aged 18-19 from the BFI Film Academy – Holywood, Northern Ireland
On her 18th birthday, a girl sets out to bake the perfect birthday cake. However, a past baking misadventure hangs heavy on her shoulders and comes back to haunt her in unexpected ways. Can she overcome her baking demons? It is a funny, smartly made film with a lovely story about perseverance and putting past mistakes behind us.
Ones To Watch (Sponsored by EON Productions)
The following are our chosen 2025 Ones to Watch
Dinah Naitamu, aged 18 – London, England
Dinah is a director, writer and actor who is currently attending the London Screen Academy. Her biggest goal is to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups, both in front of and behind the camera, and tell stories that are often excluded from the mainstream.
In 20 years, she wants to be halfway to EGOT status (winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award), and working with the likes of Zendaya, Quinta Brunson and Ayo Edebiri.
Indi, aged 15 – Waterlooville, England
Indi is one of only two people to receive multiple nominations at this year’s Into Film Awards. He was also nominated at last year’s Into Film Awards for his film film Saving Yourself (and the World), which went on to be nominated for several other film festival awards, including the Horsham Film Festival.
Indi is a prolific filmmaker who has already created two horror films and a short production for his Film Studies GCSE this year, as well helping a local drama group create and edit a series of short films.
This year he plans to enter more film festivals, including Brighton Rocks, and aspires to one day have a film shortlisted by the Sundance Film Festival.
Michael Smith, aged 18 – Newton Aycliffe, England
Michael started making films at just 8-years-old, and by 16 his first feature film, documentary Streets of Steel: The History Of Witton Park, was screened at Witton Park Village Hall in January 2024.
The positive response he received from the local community underlined how important and successful his commitment to unearthing hidden histories has proved. Continuing in this vein, Michael has recently been commissioned by Teescraft Engineering and councillors from Durham County Council to create a documentary on the Stockton and Darlington Railway to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2025.
This dedication to working with and in his local community is also apparent in Michael’s work with Kynren (an outdoor theatre event) and the Hardwick Live music festival. Michael has also volunteered as a videographer for Bishop Auckland FC for the past 5 years, filming matches and conducting post-match interviews.
Filmmaking Champions (Sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd.)
The following are all Into Film Awards 2025 Filmmaking Champions
Dale Forder from St Luke’s CE Primary School – Northampton, England
Dale has been supporting young people’s filmmaking since 2021. He started working on film projects during the COVID lockdown, when working with youth theatre groups and needing to find alternate ways for them to be creative without directly working in large groups, as well as a way to demonstrate their progress to parents.
Dale now runs an extra-curricular film club at St Luke’s CE Primary School in Northampton. The club is available to children across years 1-6, with the older children often helping the younger ones, helping them learn responsibilities and the importance of helping others.
Dale strives to give the young people as much creative freedom as possible and encourages them to only create films that help tackle topical issues of importance to young people. Previous films include You Are Enough, a film about exam stress and secondary school anxiety; Dyslexia & Me, a documentary/drama hybrid exploring children’s understanding of dyslexia (which won Best Film – 11 and Under at the 2024 Into Film Awards); and their most recent project, Navigating The Net, which is about internet and computer safety.
Steve Swindon from TAPE Community Music and Film – Llandudno, Wales
Steve runs TAPE Community Music and Film, a community arts charity in North Wales that he started 17 years ago, where filmmaking is a cornerstone of their work.
A lot of TAPE’s recent work has been with young people at Ysgol Y Gogarth, an additional learning needs school in Llandudno. Working with 16-19 year olds with a wide range of additional needs, Steve strives to be a creative advocate for the ideas and ambitions of the young people he works with.
He is committed to creative inclusion and encouraging new ways of working, giving as many people as possible the opportunity to have their ambitions and ideas heard and explored through film.
Pupils there have been supported to set up their own production company, Hope Productions, and their film Battery – a perfect example of Steve’s work in action – was nominated for Best Film – 16-19 at the Into Film Awards 2024.
St. Colmcille’s Primary School – Crossgar, Northern Ireland
Based in a small, rural community, where young people face a number of challenges, and limited access to opportunities and the arts, St. Colmcille’s has gone above and beyond in using film to broaden the horizons of its pupils and open up a world of possibilities.
In February 2022 the school began a cross-circular project focused on the use of film. Departments across the school worked together to provide pupils with a range of transferable film-based skills, weaving filmmaking into normal lessons, and ultimately seeing each class create their own films.
Now, each year they host a glitzy premiere evening, complete with red carpet, a limousine, photo booth, ‘paparazzi’ and popcorn, giving the young filmmakers and the wider community – a unique and unforgettable experience.
In 2024, their film Cereal Killers was nominated for Best Film 12-15, and ultimately won the Audience Choice Award.
