Cardiff Youth Service take centre stage at 2024 Into Film Awards

Welsh filmmaking talent once again dominates nominations at this year’s Into Film Awards, which are being held at a star-studded, red-carpet event at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 25 June.

Among this year’s nominees are Cardiff Youth Service who’ve been shortlisted for ‘Filmmaking Champion’.

Cardiff Youth Service are part of Cardiff Council’s Education department, and work with young people aged 11-25 years to develop personal, social and educational development through a variety of opportunities, including filmmaking projects. They work with young people in a variety of settings, offering targeted support for those identified as vulnerable. They recognise that young people are able to express themselves through creativity, and have seen how filmmaking can allow young people to learn new skills, build relationships and improve their confidence.

Speaking before the Awards ceremony, Dayle Luce said: “Cardiff Youth Service are looking forward to being involved in such a fantastic event next week and it’s an honour to be shortlisted for an Into Film award, which recognises the achievements of our young people and staff team. Next week we will also be celebrating Youth Work week so a perfect opportunity to support a group of young people going to London as part of this awards!

“We have seen how filmmaking projects not only allow young people to learn new skills but they can also build their relationships and improve their confidence, aspirations and creativity.”

Celebrating its 10^th year, the Into Film Awards enable young people aged 5-19 years to be creative and find a voice through practical filmmaking, and to make films about what matters to them.

Of the nine categories which include both animation and live action films, budding Welsh filmmakers and filmmaking champions from Aberystwyth, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno, Llandeilo and Cardiff have secured an impressive five nominations across five categories.

They are: (please click on the title to watch the nominated film).

Non Stevens, Head of Into Film Cymru, said: “The purpose of the awards is to promote the power of film in supporting the educational, cultural and personal development of children and young people. All this is an integral part of the new curriculum in Wales, with schools across our nation using film in creative and innovative ways, with educators and learners exploring, responding and creating film on a wide variety of subjects and themes.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing and seeing the Welsh language and our Welsh stories – a popular theme for this year’s panel – on the big screen at the 2024 prestigious Awards in London. Warmest congratulations to everyone on their nominations.”

Other categories include Best Documentary (Sponsored by IMDb); Best Film – 11 and Under (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios); Time for Action (Sponsored by Swatch); and Ones to Watch (Sponsored by EON Productions).

This year’s Awards received hundreds of entries from every corner of the UK, with stories ranging from light-hearted comedies, to thought-provoking documentaries, and with topics such as climate change, mental health, and our ever-increasing reliance on technology also a focus, our nominated films speak to the issues that young people are most concerned about today, as well their filmmaking prowess.

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.