Every Child a Filmmaker

We believe every young person has the right to tell their story through film. 

To mark our 10th Anniversary as Into Film, we launched Every Child a Filmmaker, an inclusive filmmaking initiative which forms part of our ongoing commitment to give every young person the opportunity to bring their ideas to life through film. The Every Child a Filmmaker programme has a particular focus on supporting children and young people from underserved and underrepresented communities across the UK.

Working closely with professional filmmakers, the initiative supports young people across the UK to make their own short film, learning every element of the filmmaking process along the way - from idea generation, storyboarding and scriptwriting, right through to camera operation, sound recording, and editing.

Together, they develop the skills they need to tell their stories, bringing new perspectives and unheard voices to the screen, as well as supporting their future aspirations and employability in the screen industries.

Thanks to our generous funders, including EON Productions, Amazon MGM Studios and Swatch, in our first year we will be able to support and enable 250 young people from across the UK, including the Scottish Highlands, Belfast, Cardiff and London, to experience the transformational power of filmmaking.

If you'd like to find out more about supporting Every Child a Filmmaker, please contact ECAF@intofilm.org.

Key numbers

To date we have delivered 13 Every Child a Filmmaker projects across the UK. We have collaborated with 35 filmmakers, working with 20 schools, colleges, youth organisations and charities, and have delivered in-depth filmmaking workshops to 145 young people.

Of the young people involved in these projects...

• 45% had never made a film before
• 97% said they felt more confident after taking part in their project
• 96% said taking part had significantly increased their understanding of film production and the screen industries
• 93% said their ability to creatively express themselves was ‘a lot better' as a result of taking part
• 95% said their teamworking skills had improved as a result of taking part.

Testimony and Recognition

One group that have already benefitted from Every Child a Filmmaker are West Herts College, in Watford.

"On behalf of West Herts College Group and our students, I wanted to say a massive thank you to all involved in the project and for offering our students this great opportunity to create a short film with Into Film", said Kathryn Crawley, Group Head of Employer Liaison at West Herts. "The knowledge and practical skills gained have really inspired and motivated our students."

Ben Cutting, Subject Leader for KS4 English at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield also enthused about the transformational power of the programme. 

"Prior to this, the process of filmmaking itself was abstract. I've seen it in behind-the-scenes documentaries, heard and read about it in interviews and textbooks, but to actually be involved in the process itself has been, and this is not hyperbole, a life changing experience for me as a professional.

The students lives will not be the same again, my teaching and understanding has progressed and as a life experience it is something I will never forget. It was an honour being part of something so inspirational to so many people on so many levels. I can't thank Into Film enough for this remarkable opportunity."

As well as the hugely positive feedback we've received from young people, educators and youth leaders, we're delighted to share that our Every Child a Filmmaker project delivered to young people at Westgate Hill Primary School, Newcastle, in partnership with Young Women's Film Academy won the award for Best Arts & Education Partnership at the North East Culture Awards 2024. Watch the film here.

Films

We're delighted to share a selection of the completed Every Child a Filmmaker films, as well as the accompanying behind-the-scenes films that document the additional benefits for the young people of taking place in the programme, such as increased confidence in their creative voice, and skills development, including team working and communication.

• Anna and the Ninja, made by students from Castle Tower School, Ballymena
• Anna and the Ninja, behind-the-scenes film
• Static, made by students from West Herts College, Watford
• Static, behind-the-scenes film

All the Every Child a Filmmaker short films are available to watch on our YouTube channel.