Announcing the winner of our Time to Inspire Storyboard competition

Congratulations to five Year 12 A-level students from All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield, whose storyboard Dinosaur has won our Time to Inspire Storyboard competition, delivered in partnership with world-renowned Swiss watchmaker, Swatch.

Part of our Every Child a Filmmaker initiative, this educational and exciting competition invited young people aged 13-19 to create a storyboard themed around what inspires them - something that is unique to each young person - to develop their creative skills and imaginations. The aim was to showcase the positive impact young filmmakers can have by using their films to inspire future generations to aspire, be empowered, and be the changemakers of tomorrow. Storyboards visualise key events in a story, depicting scenes and sequences in chronological order, and allowing for more context and information about each frame. They are a vital part of the filmmaking process.

Working with Futures in Film CIC, who are committed to developing future talent for the film and high-end TV sector (HETV) through immersive training, we supported the winning group to help bring their storyboard to life. The winners - Leah, Christina, Eva, Paree, and Lian, all film studies students - were given the opportunity to turn their winning storyboard into a completed short film. The film of Dinosaur will now be screened over 2,000 times in cinemas across the UK as part of the Into Film Festival this November and will be showcased on the Into Film YouTube Shorts channel - one of the largest collections of youth-made short films, suitable for 13+, in the UK - and on our Into Film website in an Into Film+ playlist, for schools to enjoy for years to come.

Dinosaur tells the story of Matthew, a young boy on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance of his cultural heritage. As he prepares to go to school on a non-uniform day, Matthew wears a Kurta, a traditional South Asian tunic, but his anxiety about standing out in this attire leads him to imagine himself in a dinosaur costume instead. With the support of his family and friends, Matthew gradually learns to embrace his cultural identity, gaining confidence and comfort in who he is. By accepting and celebrating his heritage, Matthew not only finds his own sense of pride but also inspires others to appreciate and take pride in the unique qualities that make them special.

Our winners, along with four other shortlisted teams, were invited to attend a storyboard workshop to develop their initial ideas at the Netflix office in London in May 2024. The workshop provided the young participants with the opportunity to enhance their skills, including responding to a creative industry brief, working more effectively as a team, and presenting their short film ideas to an expert panel.

After impressing the selection panel with a superb pitch that was well-structured and clearly communicated how their inspirational story aligned with the competition theme, the winning group were selected to advance their storyboard idea into film development. The other groups, each of which showed significant potential in their approach to the brief and demonstrated considerable learning during their pitches, will receive further support and encouragement from the Into Film team to continue their filmmaking journey.

The winning group then moved into pre-production for their film Dinosaur. Led by Futures in Film and working alongside seasoned industry professionals such as Rupert Hornstein (First Camera Assistant - Masters of the Air) and Mark Nutkins (Cinematographer - The Split), they gained hands-on experience in script development, casting calls, site recces, screen tests, rehearsals, equipment testing, set etiquette, health and safety, and more. Pre-production transitioned to production in mid-July with three days of intensive and exciting principal photography carried out on location in Sheffield, utilising the latest high-end industry equipment and techniques as part of a professional, fast-moving film crew.

Finally, the group worked on piecing the shots together in the edit, learning how crucial this part of the process is and how even small, subtle choices can make a significant impact on the finished film.

"Thank you to Into Film for organising the competition and gracing us with this inspirational opportunity", said Ben Cutting, Teacher of A-Level Film Studies at All Saints Catholic High School. "Thanks to everyone, including Futures in Film, for their tireless work and support at all stages of this process. What an amazing crew, and the initiative is everything we need in film to support young talent and those looking to carve a pathway into the industry. A beautiful ethos to hold and push on with. An experience I will never forget. It truly was a time to inspire on all levels."

Inspiring a new generation of filmmakers

Below, the winning group from Sheffield outlined some of their top learnings from the experience.

Lian: A lesson I've learned is to always have fun. Being in a professional environment can be overwhelming, but if you work well with others and adopt a positive mindset, it'll become an unforgettable experience.

Eva: This experience has been hugely insightful and an amazing opportunity to take part in. It's been great to work creatively with my friends and industry professionals to see the whole process from start to finish!

Christina: Bringing a short film to life wasn't easy, but by facing challenges together and staying true to ourselves, we created something truly special.

Leah: Before working on this project, I never knew how many options and career paths were available in the film industry. There are so many different roles for people with different interests and diverse skills. I've also learnt how interrelated and reliant on each other all the different departments are. It's a real team effort, on and off set.

Paree: A lesson I have learnt is how to be part of a team. Seeing everyone's different talents all come together to create a film was incredible. What an amazing opportunity; I am ever so thankful. I will carry this experience as I progress into the film industry. Thank you!

"We are always amazed by the energy of young talent and how their point of view can be enriching and inspiring. Swatch is proud of all the participants and particularly enthusiastic about the selected winning project: a powerful, complex and emotional story. We wish everyone who contributed to the development a bright and successful future: may their stories continue to be fuelled by deep emotions and passion we look forward to being inspired by them!" - Carlo Giordanetti, CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel

More about Swatch

Positive provocation and joie de vivre made in Switzerland: since its founding in 1983, Swatch has shaken up the watch industry. Thanks to its striking designs that always reflect the zeitgeist, Swatch is one of the leading watch manufacturers and most sought-after brands in the world and has always stayed true to itself. The company surprises again and again, whether it be with regularly released new models or special collections. The revolutionary way in which Swatch thinks and acts has always been evident with its early involvement in action sports, such as BMX, skateboarding and surfing. The Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai embodies the brand's love of art and brings together artists from around the world.