Into Film Awards 2025 - Entry Criteria

Below you can find all of the entry criteria for the 2025 Into Film Awards.

General Criteria and Appropriate Content

Take some time to read the criteria carefully. To be shortlisted for the judges' consideration, all films submitted must meet the following general criteria:

• Filmmakers must be aged between 5 and 19 years at the time of submitting.
• The film should be no longer than 10 minutes in duration, including title and credits.
• Any music, images and video content from a third party must be cleared for use by the copyright holder. We suggest only using free library music that can be easily sourced online. See our Top Tips for Filmmakers resource for more guidance.
• No surnames of young people aged 18 or under should be used in the film, including the credits.
• All young people aged 18 and under who have been involved in the making of the film must have a signed consent form. If your film is nominated, you will be asked to provide copies of your consent forms.
• Your film should not currently be being graded as part of any film qualification Non-Exam Assessment (NEA), or as coursework on a film qualification course (e.g. A Level or GCSE Film Studies).

We also share many of the films we receive from young filmmakers on the Into Film website and across our social media channels for others to enjoy. Therefore, it is important that the content of your film is appropriate.

It's also worth noting that films appearing to condone or encourage risky behaviours have a limited appeal for many youth film festivals. As so, please keep the following in mind:

• Avoid swearing and offensive language.
• Avoid showing risky behaviours, such as drug taking, smoking or excessive violence.
• If depicting risky behaviour is part of your story, consider whether it is necessary to depict the behaviour explicitly on screen for the audience to understand what is happening.
• Think creativity about how you can explore these issues in a responsible way.

Entry Criteria for the Into Film Awards 2025

• Read the entry criteria in Welsh

Best Film and Animation categories

Best Film - 5-11, Best Film - 12-15, Best Film - 16-19

Best Animation - 5-11,  Best Animation - 12-19 

The Into Film team will select three films in each category that demonstrate exceptional achievement and/or promise and potential in filmmaking and animation.

Your film can be about anything you want, and will be judged on the following areas:

• Idea the film idea is original and creative and has been delivered well
• Story the story is strong and engaging and captures the audience's attention
• Sound the music, sound effects and dialogue are clear and strengthen the narrative
• Look the use of camera angles, movement, lighting and framing support the narrative
• Technical ability this is important to some extent but entrants will not be penalised because of their lack of access to equipment or professional support

Best Documentary

The Into Film team will select three films in this category that demonstrate exceptional achievement and/or promise and potential in documentary filmmaking.

Your film can be about anything you want, and will be judged on the following areas:

• Idea/Subject- the idea/subject is engaging/interesting and captures an audience's attention
• Argument- the filmmaker(s) show(s) strength in structure/argumentation to support their idea/subject
• Look - the use of camera, movement, and lighting support the film well
• Sound - the music, sound effects and dialogue are clear and strengthen the subject/argument
• Technical ability this is important to some extent but entrants will not be penalised because of their lack of access to equipment or professional support

Time for Action

The Time for Action category is for films made by young people that raise awareness of issues and explore the changes they would like to make in the world, whether big or small, personal or society wide.

We are looking for films that capture young people's hopes and dreams, whether relating to their day-to-day life at home, at their youth club or school, or within their wider community.

Alternatively, young people could explore bigger changes that they want to see in the world. If there's an issue that is important to the young filmmakers, we want to hear about it. The film can be any genre and will be judged on the following areas:

• Idea/Voice ideas and issues are relevant to the theme of Time For Action, explored creatively, and effectively convey young peoples' opinions
• Story/Message - the narrative/argument is strong and engaging and leaves the audience with a clear message and/or call to action
• Sound - the music, sound effects and dialogue are clear and strengthen the narrative/argument
• Look - the use of camera, movement, and lighting support the film well
• Technical ability - this is important to some extent, but entrants will not be penalised due to a lack of access to either equipment or professional support

Best Story

Nominees in this category will be selected from across all of the films submitted to other filmmaking categories - you cannot enter this category directly.

While this isn't a category you need to manually enter, it is still worth considering the criteria, and keeping this in mind when making or submitting your films. The following criteria will be used when judges are shortlisting films, to help assess whether they are suitable for a Best Story nomination.

• Plot/Narrative
  The plot is clear, with a confident structure or a creative subversion of familiar story tropes. Makes creative use of narrative devices, like plot twists or foreshadowing, which may be used to add originality.
• Character/Character Development
  Characters are well-developed throughout the film, with believable motivations. They undergo meaningful journeys, showing growth or transformation.
• Dialogue/Action
  The dialogue flows naturally, enhancing the pace and tone of the film. It balances 'show, not tell', making effective use of action rather than forced dialogue to reveal characters' inner states. The film may equally have little or no dialogue, and make effective use of action/visual storytelling to communicate the story.
• Themes
  The film explores resonant themes such as good vs. evil, community, or climate anxiety, offering creative and/or engaging perspectives and insights into these ideas through, among other things, the use of character, action, dialogue, and plot.

Ones to Watch

We are searching for young creatives and filmmakers from across the UK that show exceptional achievement and/or promise and potential in filmmaking.

Three young filmmakers will be recognised at the 2025 Into Film Awards and win prizes to support their filmmaking journey. 

You will be asked to provide at least two examples of films that the young person has made. You may also include a show-reel. In addition, you will be given the opportunity to provide extra documents or web links to further evidence and support your nomination.

• To be nominated, the young person in question must be aged 13-19 years of age and reside in the UK
• The nominee, via a nominated adult, should be advised they are being notified in advance of the submission
• Nominations can be made by any adult on behalf of a young person aged 13-19 (with the consent of a parent or guardian to support the nomination).

Filmmaking Champions

You can nominate for this category. We want to recognise and honour those individuals or groups that help support young people to find an outlet through filmmaking. All entrants must run inspirational filmmaking projects with young people aged 5-19, particularly those who face barriers and challenges in their lives.

Three Filmmaking Champions will be recognised at the 2025 Into Film Awards and win prizes.

When reviewing submissions judges will consider the following criteria to make their selection:

• The nominated champion runs inspirational filmmaking projects with young people aged 5-19, particularly those who face barriers and challenges in their lives
• The nominee should be advised that they are being notified in advance of the submission
• Their filmmaking projects have a positive impact on the lives of young people
• Their filmmaking projects have enabled young people to express themselves and to develop their creativity and storytelling
• Their filmmaking projects have enabled young people to develop transferable skills, for example team working or problem solving

Entries can be for an individual, or a small team of people that work together to champion filmmaking. The relevant filmmaking projects can take place in a school, the wider community, or any other setting. You can enter on behalf of yourself or put others forward for the award. (Note: anyone submitting an entry must be aged 20 or above - those younger will need the support of a parent/guardian to submit an entry).

You will be given the opportunity to provide documents or web links to evidence the above criteria and support your submission, and you will be asked to upload at least one film that you have supported young people to make. 

This category is not predominantly focused on judging the actual films that the prospective Filmmaking Champions' work has enabled (these should be entered into the relevant filmmaking category), but rather their way of working with young people, and the positive impact this work has had on their lives, creativity, and skills.

Please note, if you or the person/group you enter are selected as one of our Filmmaking Champions our Production Team will visit you to capture filmed content to be shown at the Into Film Awards 2025.

Best Story

Every film submitted in the other filmmaking categories will be automatically considered for this category. This is a judges category and won't be open to the public to enter - you will need to enter one of the other filmmaking categories to be considered for a nomination in this category.

We will be looking at the following criteria when nominating films for Best Story:

Plot/Narrative
The plot is clear, with a clear structure or a creative subversion of familiar story tropes. Creative use of narrative devices like plot twists or foreshadowing may be used to add originality.

Character/Character Development
Characters are well-developed throughout the film, with believable motivations. They undergo meaningful journeys, showing growth or transformation.

Dialogue/Action
The dialogue flows naturally, enhancing the pace and tone of the film. It balances "show, not tell," making effective use of action rather than forced dialogue to reveal characters' inner states. The film may equally have little or no dialogue and make effective use of action/visual storytelling to communicate the story.

Themes
The film explores themes like good vs. evil, community, or climate anxiety, offering creative/engaging perspectives and insights on these themes through, for example, character, action, dialogue, and plot. 

Audience Choice

Voting for the Audience Choice award will commence on Into Film's social media channels once nominees in the other categories have been shortlisted.

Welsh translation

Meini Prawf Cyffredinol a Chynnwys Priodol

Cymerwch amser iddarllen y meini prawf yn ofalus. I fod ar y rhestr fer i'r beirniaid eihystyried, rhaid i bob ffilm sy'n cael ei chyflwyno fodloni'r meini prawfcyffredinol canlynol:

• Rhaid i'r gwneuthurwyr ffilm fod rhwng 5 a 19 oed ar adeg cyflwyno.
• Ni ddylai'r ffilm fod yn fwy na 10 munud o hyd, gan gynnwys teitl a'r rhestr gydnabod.
• Rhaid i unrhyw gerddoriaeth, delweddau a chynnwys fideo gan drydydd parti gael eu clirio i'w defnyddio gan ddeiliad yr hawlfraint. Rydym yn awgrymu defnyddio cerddoriaeth llyfrgell am ddim yn unig sy'n hawdd ei chanfod ar-lein. Cymerwch olwg ar ein hadnodd Top Tips for Filmmakers i gael rhagor o arweiniad.
• Ni ddylid defnyddio cyfenwau unrhyw bobl ifanc 18 oed neu iau yn y ffilm, gan gynnwys y rhestr gydnabod.
• Rhaid i bob person ifanc 18 oed ac iau sydd wedi bod yn rhan o greu'r ffilm fod â ffurflen gydsyniad wedi'i llofnodi. Os caiff eich ffilm ei henwebu, bydd gofyn i chi ddarparu copïau o'ch ffurflenni cydsyniad.
• Ni ddylai eich ffilm fod yn cael ei graddio ar hyn o bryd fel rhan o unrhyw Asesiad Di-Arholiad ar gyfer cymhwyster ffilm, nac fel gwaith cwrs ar gwrs cymhwyster ffilm (e.e. Safon Uwch neu TGAU Astudiaethau Ffilm).

Rydyn ni hefyd ynrhannu llawer o'r ffilmiau rydyn ni'n eu derbyn gan wneuthurwyr ffilm ifanc arwefan Into Film ac ar draws ein sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol er mwyn i bobl erailleu mwynhau. Felly, mae'n bwysig bod cynnwys eich ffilm yn briodol.

Mae'n werth nodihefyd bod ffilmiau sy'n ymddangos fel pe baent yn esgusodi neu'n annogymddygiadau peryglus yn gyfyngedig eu hapêl i lawer o wyliau ffilm ieuenctid.Felly, cadwch y canlynol mewn cof:

• Dylech osgoi rhegi ac iaith sarhaus.
• Dylech osgoi dangos ymddygiadau peryglus, fel cymryd cyffuriau, ysmygu neu drais gormodol.
• Os yw darlunio ymddygiad peryglus yn rhan o'ch stori, ystyriwch a oes angen darlunio'r ymddygiad yn benodol ar y sgrin er mwyn i'r gynulleidfa ddeall beth sy'n digwydd.
• Meddyliwch am sut y gallwch chi archwilio'r materion hyn mewn ffordd gyfrifol.

Categorïau Ffilm ac Animeiddiad Gorau

Ffilm Orau - 5-11, Ffilm Orau - 12-15, Ffilm Orau - 16-19

Animeiddiad Gorau - 5-11, Animeiddiad Gorau -12-19

Bydd tîm IntoFilm yn dewis tair ffilm ym mhob categori sy'n dangos cyflawniad eithriadola/neu addewid a photensial ym maes animeiddio.

Gall eich ffilmfod am unrhyw beth rydych chi eisiau, a bydd yn cael ei beirniadu ar sail ymeysydd canlynol:

• Syniad - mae syniad y ffilm yn wreiddiol ac yn greadigol ac wedi'i gyflawni'n dda
• Stori - mae'r stori'n gryf ac yn ddiddorol ac yn dal sylw'r gynulleidfa
• Sain - mae'r gerddoriaeth, yr effeithiau sain a'r ddeialog yn glir ac yn cryfhau'r naratif
• Golwg - mae'r y defnydd o onglau'r camera, symudiad, goleuo a fframio yn cefnogi'r naratif
• Gallu technegol - mae hyn yn bwysig i ryw raddau ond ni fydd ymgeiswyr yn cael eu cosbi oherwydd eu diffyg mynediad at offer neu gymorth proffesiynol

Categorïau Ffilm Orau

Bydd tîm IntoFilm yn dewis tair ffilm ym mhob categori sy'n dangos cyflawniad eithriadola/neu addewid a photensial ym maes creu ffilmiau.

• Gall eich ffilm fod am unrhyw beth rydych chi eisiau, a bydd yn cael ei beirniadu ar sail y meysydd canlynol:
• Syniad - mae syniad y ffilm yn wreiddiol ac yn greadigol ac wedi'i gyflawni'n dda
• Stori - mae'r stori'n gryf ac yn ddiddorol ac yn dal sylw'r gynulleidfa
• Sain - mae'r gerddoriaeth, yr effeithiau sain a'r ddeialog yn glir ac yn cryfhau'r naratif
• Golwg - mae'r defnydd o onglau'r camera, symudiad, goleuo a fframio yn cefnogi'r naratif
• Gallu technegol - mae hyn yn bwysig i ryw raddau ond ni fydd ymgeiswyr yn cael eu cosbi oherwydd eu diffyg mynediad at offer neu gymorth proffesiynol

Ffilm Ddogfen Orau

Bydd tîm IntoFilm yn dewis tair ffilm yn y categori hwn sy'n dangos cyflawniad eithriadola/neu addewid a photensial ym maes creu ffilmiau dogfen.

Gall eich ffilmfod am unrhyw beth rydych chi eisiau, a bydd yn cael ei beirniadu ar sail ymeysydd canlynol:

• Syniad/Pwnc - mae'r syniad/pwnc yn ddeniadol/diddorol ac yn dal sylw cynulleidfa
• Dadl - mae gwneuthurwr(wyr) y ffilm yn dangos cryfder o ran strwythur/ymresymu i gefnogi eu syniad/pwnc
• Golwg - mae'r defnydd o gamera, symudiad a goleuo yn cefnogi'r ffilm yn dda
• Sain - mae'r gerddoriaeth, yr effeithiau sain a'r ddeialog yn glir ac yn cryfhau'r pwnc/dadl
• Gallu technegol - mae hyn yn bwysig i ryw raddau ond ni fydd ymgeiswyr yn cael eu cosbi oherwydd eu diffyg mynediad at offer neu gymorth proffesiynol

Amser Gweithredu

Mae'r categoriAmser Gweithredu yn addas i ffilmiau wedi'u creu gan bobl ifanc sy'n codiymwybyddiaeth o faterion ac yn archwilio'r newidiadau yr hoffen nhw eu gwneudyn y byd, boed yn fawr neu'n fach, ar lefel bersonol neu i'r gymdeithas gyfan.

Rydym yn chwilioam ffilmiau sy'n dal gobeithion a breuddwydion pobl ifanc, boed yn ymwneud â'ubywyd o ddydd i ddydd gartref, yn eu clwb ieuenctid neu eu hysgol, neu o fewneu cymuned ehangach.

Fel arall,gallai'r bobl ifanc archwilio newidiadau mwy y maen nhw am eu gweld yn y byd.Os oes yna fater sy'n bwysig i'r gwneuthurwyr ffilm ifanc, rydyn ni eisiauclywed amdano. Gall y ffilm fod o unrhyw genre a bydd yn cael ei beirniadu arsail y meysydd canlynol:

• Syniad/Llais - mae syniadau a materion yn berthnasol i thema Amser Gweithredu, yn cael eu harchwilio'n greadigol, ac yn cyfleu barn pobl ifanc yn effeithiol
• Stori/Neges - mae'r naratif/dadl yn gryf ac yn ddiddorol ac yn gadael y gynulleidfa â neges glir a/neu alwad i weithredu
• Sain - mae'r gerddoriaeth, yr effeithiau sain a'r ddeialog yn glir ac yn cryfhau'r naratif/dadl
• Golwg - mae'r defnydd o gamera, symudiad a goleuo yn cefnogi'r ffilm yn dda
• Gallu technegol - mae hyn yn bwysig i ryw raddau, ond ni fydd ymgeiswyr yn cael eu cosbi oherwydd diffyg mynediad at naill ai offer neu gymorth proffesiynol

Rhai i'w Gwylio

Rydym yn chwilioam bobl greadigol a gwneuthurwyr ffilm ifanc o bob rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig sy'ndangos cyflawniad eithriadol a/neu addewid a photensial ym maes creu ffilmiau.

Bydd trigwneuthurwr ffilm ifanc yn cael eu cydnabod yng Ngwobrau Into Film 2025 ac ynennill gwobrau i'w cefnogi ar eu taith o greu ffilmiau.

Bydd gofyn i chiddarparu o leiaf ddwy enghraifft o ffilmiau y mae'r person ifanc wedi'u creu.Gallwch hefyd gynnwys rîl arddangos. Yn ogystal, bydd gennych y cyfle iddarparu dogfennau ychwanegol neu ddolenni gwe i roi tystiolaeth bellach achefnogi eich enwebiad.

• Er mwyn cael eu henwebu, rhaid i'r person ifanc dan sylw fod rhwng 13-19 oed ac yn byw yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
• Dylid hysbysu'r enwebai, trwy oedolyn enwebedig, eu bod yn cael eu henwebu cyn cyflwyno.
• Gall unrhyw oedolyn wneud enwebiadau ar ran person ifanc 13-19 oed (gyda chydsyniad rhiant neu warcheidwad i gefnogi'r enwebiad).

Hyrwyddwyr Creu Ffilmiau

Gallwch enwebu i'rcategori hwn. Rydym eisiau cydnabod ac anrhydeddu'r unigolion neu'r grwpiauhynny sy'n helpu i gefnogi pobl ifanc i ddod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen trwy greuffilmiau. Rhaid i bob ymgeisydd fod yn rhedeg prosiectau creu ffilmiau llawnysbrydoliaeth gyda phobl ifanc 5-19 oed, yn enwedig rhai sy'n wynebu rhwystraua heriau yn eu bywydau.

Bydd triHyrwyddwr Creu Ffilmiau yn cael eu cydnabod yng Ngwobrau Into Film 2025 ac ynennill gwobrau.

Wrth adolygucyflwyniadau bydd y beirniaid yn ystyried y meini prawf canlynol i wneud eudewis:

• Mae'r hyrwyddwr a enwebwyd yn rhedeg prosiectau creu ffilmiau llawn ysbrydoliaeth gyda phobl ifanc 5-19 oed, yn enwedig rhai sy'n wynebu rhwystrau a heriau yn eu bywydau
• Dylid hysbysu'r enwebai eu bod yn cael eu henwebu cyn cyflwyno
• Mae eu prosiectau creu ffilmiau yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar fywydau pobl ifanc
• Mae eu prosiectau creu ffilmiau wedi galluogi pobl ifanc i fynegi eu hunain a datblygu eu creadigrwydd a'u sgiliau adrodd stori
• Mae eu prosiectau creu ffilmiau wedi galluogi pobl ifanc i ddatblygu sgiliau trosglwyddadwy, er enghraifft gweithio mewn tîm neu ddatrys problemau

Gall ceisiadaufod ar gyfer unigolyn, neu dîm bach o bobl sy'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd ihyrwyddo crefft creu ffilmiau. Gall y prosiectau creu ffilmiau perthnasol fodyn cael eu cynnal mewn ysgol, yn y gymuned ehangach, neu mewn unrhyw leoliadarall. Gallwch ymgeisio ar eich rhan eich hun neu gynnig eraill ar gyfer ywobr. (Noder: rhaid i unrhyw un sy'n cyflwyno cais fod yn 20 oed neu'n hŷn -bydd angen cefnogaeth rhiant/gwarcheidwad ar rai iau i gyflwyno cais).

Byddwch yn cael ycyfle i ddarparu dogfennau neu ddolenni gwe i ddangos y meini prawf uchod ac igefnogi eich cyflwyniad, a bydd gofyn i chi uwchlwytho o leiaf un ffilm rydychchi wedi cefnogi pobl ifanc i'w chreu. 

Nid yw'r categorihwn yn canolbwyntio'n bennaf ar feirniadu'r ffilmiau eu hunain y mae gwaith ydarpar Hyrwyddwyr Creu Ffilmiau wedi'u galluogi (dylai'r rhain gael eu cynnwysyn y categori creu ffilmiau perthnasol), ond yn hytrach eu ffordd o weithiogyda phobl ifanc, a'r effaith gadarnhaol y mae'r gwaith hwn wedi'i chael ar eubywydau, eu creadigrwydd, a'u sgiliau.

Noder, os byddwchchi neu'r person/grŵp a gyflwynwch yn cael eich/eu dewis fel un o'n HyrwyddwyrCreu Ffilmiau, bydd ein Tîm Cynhyrchu yn ymweld â chi i ffilmio cynnwys i'wddangos yng Ngwobrau Into Film 2025.

Dewis y Gynulleidfa

Bydd pleidleisioar gyfer gwobr Dewis y Gynulleidfa yn dechrau ar sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasolInto Film unwaith y bydd enwebeion yn y categorïau eraill wedi cyrraedd yrhestr fer.