2017 INTO FILM AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Into Film, the leading education organisation supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding – and counts Eddie Redmayne and Naomie Harris among its Ambassadors - has announced its list of nominees for its 3rd annual Awards.  The ceremony, to be hosted by popular TV and radio presenter Edith Bowman, will take place at the ODEON Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 14 March 2017.  The Into Film Awards pay tribute to young people who have shown exceptional achievements in filmmaking and film reviewing, and to teachers and film clubs who have demonstrated inspirational use of film in the classroom.

Designed to recognise, showcase and celebrate young people’s involvement in film and education, the red-carpet event will bring together film industry professionals and young people to shine a spotlight on the filmmaking achievements of 5-19 year olds from across the UK, as well as recognising teachers’ use of film as an education tool in school, young film reviewers and highlighting outstanding film clubs currently being run in primary and secondary schools.  Nominees will have clips from their films screened to a 800-strong audience with the winners being awarded a coveted gong at a star-studded awards ceremony.

Nominees hail from all over the UK, as part of school or youth groups and individuals. The short films nominated explore a wide range of issues, often pertinent to their age group such as bullying, self-confidence, school and growing up, and this year entries are also reflecting current topical themes including the refugee crisis and gender equality. The submission of these short films, such as Plastic Fantastic,  Miracle Life and Accessories, highlights how film is helping young people to voice their thoughts and views on the ever changing world around them.

The Into Film Awards is made possible with support from the film industry through sponsorship, and its education partner this year is NATE (National Association for the Teaching of English) and Universal Pictures International is its Event Partner. Additional sponsors include Sony Pictures Releasing UK, IMDb, EON Productions, Warner Bros. Creative Talent, Saban’s POWER RANGERS, The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, Independent Talent Group, Pinewood Studios Group, The Special Treats Production Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, IM Global, supported by UK Space Agency and Empire Design, and in association with First News. 

The nominations in the Best Family Film of the Year category in association with First News include Disney’s animated action-comedy ZOOTROPOLIS, BAFTA award-winning animation KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS, horror-comedy GOOSEBUMPS, live-action/CGI remake THE JUNGLE BOOK, director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic THE BFG, Disney Pixar animation FINDING DORY, Disney’s CG-animated adventure MOANA, director Mira Nair's biopic of a Ugandan chess prodigy THE QUEEN OF KATWE, DreamWorks Animation musical-comedy TROLLS, J.K. Rowling's wizarding world adventure FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, director Tim Burton’s dark fantasy film MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN and a new adaptation of Arthur Ransome's children’s classic SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS.    

The Awards will be judged by a panel of industry leaders including: Sara Bennett (Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor, EX-MACHINA), Stephen Mangan (actor, RUSH), George Amponsah (director, THE HARD STOP), Dionne Walker (producer, THE HARD STOP), Andrea Gibb (screenwriter, SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS), Ed Skrein (actor, GAMES OF THRONES), Andrew Steggall (director, DEPARTURE), Tahra Zafar (Animatronics Designer, STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS), Jane Gull (director, MY FERAL HEART), Bola Agbaje (screenwriter, GONE TOO FAR) and Pete Burgis (Head Foley Artist, Pinewood Studios).

Paul Reeve, CEO of Into Film, comments: “Each year we are very excited to come together at the Into Film Awards to celebrate young people’s achievements in filmmaking and reviewing, and their passion for film. It’s always inspiring to receive their entries, which reveal an incredible array of skills, creativity and imagination. Children and young people have wonderful and important stories to tell in film, which reflect the way they see the world and enable the audience to look through their eyes.  Those stories can also touch on subjects close to their hearts and personal experience, as we have seen this year with nominated films highlighting themes and issues such as what it is like to be a child refugee living in the UK, coping with low self-esteem and the fight for equality. We are very pleased to be able to provide a platform to showcase and celebrate their work, and alongside this to recognise the skill, passion and commitment of teachers and film clubs that are enriching their young people’s learning and lives by engaging them with film.”

Naomie Harris, actor (MOONLIGHT, SPECTRE) and Into Film Ambassador, comments: “It’s wonderful that the Into Film Awards offers young people a platform to showcase their work and acknowledges the filmmakers of tomorrow.  It’s a strong starting point for anyone wishing to forge a career in film, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of these nominees in years to come.”

There are 16 awards to be won in multiple categories, including filmmaking (live action, documentary and animation), Review of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Film Club of the Year and Family Film of the Year.   A new guest category Into Film: Into Space and Home has been added for 2017 supported by UK Space Agency. 

The full nominees list is below:

The Filmmaking Awards - The filmmaking award subcategories include:

Best Animation - 12 and Under, Sponsored by Warner Brothers Creative Talent

• THE MAGIC PENCIL - Sacred Heart Catholic Primary and My Pockets, Leeds, Yorkshire
• THE LOST ROAR - Signal Starters and Signal Film and Media, Barrow-in- Furness, Cumbria
• BREAKING THE CYCLE - Brandon Estate Community Hall and Rainbow Collective, Southwark, London

Best Animation - 13 and Over

• SNAP! - Joe Blandamer, Axminster, Devon
• CURIOSITY - Thomas Varnish, Rugby, Warwickshire
• GO FORWARD - Child and Family Services of the City and County of Swansea and Winding Snake, Swansea, Wales
  
  Best Documentary - 12 and Under
• PLASTIC FANTASTIC - Anson Primary School and 104 Films, Brent, London
• THE LOST STATION - Barrow Island Primary School and Signal Film and Media, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
• THE SUFFRAGETTES VOTES FOR WOMEN - Iceni Academy and Signals Media Art Centre, Colchester, Essex

Best Documentary - 13 and Over

• ACCESSORIES – Colston’s Girls’ School and Phoenix Films, Bristol
• SMASH - The Cut Ltd, Hull, Yorkshire
• MIRACLE LIFE - The Haven, Two Way Street and My Pockets, Hull, Yorkshire

Best Live Action Film - 12 and Under - sponsored by Saban’s POWER RANGERS

• YSBRYD (GHOST) - Ysgol Cefn Coch, Penrhyndeudraeth, Wales
• THE NEW GIRL - St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School and Cottonfield Films, Liverpool
• SSL - Heathlands School for Deaf Children, Mutt and Jeff Pictures, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Best Live Action Film - 13 and Over - sponsored by Universal Pictures International

• TWO KIDS LOST - Close House Girls Group and Media Shypp, Hereford, Herefordshire
• O2 - Sam Jones, Altrincham, Greater Manchester
• MY NOT SO ORDINARY LIFE - Mencap and X-Ray Eye Films, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Into Film: Into Space and Home supported by UK Space Agency - 12 and Under

• TIM AND SKY’S ADVENTURE - Timmergreens Primary School, Arbroath, Scotland
• BEYOND EARTH - The John Bentley School, Calne, Wiltshire
• AURELIA'S ASTRONAUT SCHOOL - Aurelia Wesbroom, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

Into Film: Into Space and Home supported by UK Space Agency - 13 and Over

• MESSAGING MY MARTIAN COUSIN - Alia Nelson-Riggott, Middlewich, Cheshire
• BEYOND THE STARS – Isabel Bromfield, Gabe Krason-Smith, Olivia Romanow, Aric Fowler, Pershore, Worcestershire
• SPACE COFFEE - Eleanor Webb-Thomas, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Ones to Watch sponsored by EON Productions - This category honours three young people aged 14 to 19 who have demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition in and around film.

To Be Announced!

Into Film Club of the Year: 12 and Under

• Cleddau Reach VC Primary School - Llangwm, Pembrokeshire, Wales
• Horton Park Primary School - Bradford, West Yorkshire
• Meadows Primary School and Nursery - Ketley, Telford, Shropshire

Into Film Club of the Year: 13 and Over

• Arts and Media School - Islington, London
• John Paul Academy – Glasgow, Scotland
• Milton Keynes College - Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Into Film Teacher of the Year sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment

• Amy Parry, Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School, Swansea, Wales
• Nic Williams, Blue Bell Hill Primary School, St. Ann’s, Nottingham, East Midlands
• Tracy Rossborough, Ashfield Girls' High School, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Review of the Year sponsored by IMDb

To Be Announced!

Best Family Film of the Year in association with First News and sponsored by The Cinema and TV Benevolent Fund

• Zootropolis
• Kubo And The Two Strings
• Goosebumps
• The Jungle Book
• The BFG
• Finding Dory
• Moana
• The Queen Of Katwe
• Trolls
• Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
• Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
• Swallows And Amazons