Time to Inspire competition: Future filmmakers

Back in spring 2024, we partnered with Swatch on our Time to Inspire storyboard competition, as part of our Every Child a Filmmaker initiative.

The aim of this exciting, educational competition was to engage and support young people to develop their creative skills and imaginations by designing a storyboard about what inspires them. The winning team would then see their storyboard brought to life.

Meet Leah, Lian, Eva, Christina, Paree: a group of 17 year-old film lovers and - together - Into Film competition winners.

The group formed in teacher Ben Cutting's film class, at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, after he found our Time to Inspire competition online and encouraged the girls to enter.

Paree had previously explored filmmaking as a hobby, and always wanted to work in film. Similarly, Leah enjoys producing family vlogs and dreams of becoming an editor. But the competition was the first introduction the others in their group had to hands-on filmmaking.

Now Christina's got her sights set on directing, animation and storyboarding, Lian's looking at screen writing, and Eva's chosen production.

So, what is their winning storyboard all about?

"Our film is about a young boy named Matthew who, on non-school uniform day, wants to wear his kurta to school but is worried about what others will think," Eva explains. "At school he feels insecure and judged by his classmates until he meets a girl called Lily who wears an eye patch. She inspires him not to be so insecure, to embrace who he is and ultimately his culture."

"The story was inspired by my friend's brother, as well as my own personal experience," adds Lian. "It was really rewarding to win as we want to spread awareness, and to represent ethnic minorities and those who are unrepresented in the media."

Winning the competition gave the group an all-access glimpse into the industry they're now hoping to join. Screen experts including Jake Whitelee (sound mixer), Mark Nutkins (DoP) and Rupert Hornstein (Camera and Electrical) worked alongside the girls to produce their short film.

Eva says, "A few days before our actual shoot, we took part in a workshop with the camera, sound and lighting equipment that gave us a much stronger idea of how all aspects of the crew and set come together."

"We also conducted a mini test-run of the shoot to fully understand what we learned and what it would be like on the day," says Christina.

As part of the prize, their film was seen by thousands of young people during the Into Film Festival in November 2024 as well as shown on the Into Film website.

"It's really exciting," says Eva, "We worked so hard and dedicated so much time to the whole process."

Christina says about those watching their short film, "I hope people take away the message to just be themselves and embrace their uniqueness."

Beating so many other talented young people has also given the girls the confidence to follow their dreams of a career in filmmaking.

And it's exciting for Into Film to support a group of incredible young women to pursue a career in the screen industries.

"When making our film I did notice there were fewer women on set," Christina says, "but I believe more support will provide more opportunities for women."

"Us winning the competition could also inspire future generations to become a filmmaker," says Lian.

With these five girls determined to make their voices heard, we can't wait to find out how they shape the future of filmmaking. Read on to find out more about our Every Child a Filmmaker initiative, which forms part of our ongoing commitment to give every young person the opportunity to bring their ideas to life through film.