Film of the Month

Any film. Any genre. Any time of year.

Boys and girls filming a piece of paper
Boys and girls filming a piece of paper

Closing date - Ongoing

Enter Competition

Our Film of the Month competition celebrates exceptional young filmmaking talent from across the UK. Filmmaking is more accessible than it ever has been, and that's illustrated in the quantity and quality of the entries we receive every month.

Film of the Month is open to all young people aged 5 to 19 across the UK. However, if you are 17 and under and want to submit your film, a parent or guardian will need to provide their details to give consent for you to participate. If you submit your film without these details, it will be disqualified.

We place no restriction on genre or theme, and provide guides and resources on all aspects of the production process, so that even the most inexperienced filmmaker can feel confident in submitting an entry.

Filmmaking is an accessible and beneficial tool for engaging young people, giving them a voice and the opportunity to share their stories with others. The collaborative nature of our filmmaking programme also serves as a valuable tool for bringing young people together and improving social development.

Entries are judged by Into Film staff, and guest judges, and are assessed on the idea, sound, story and look, as well as the technical ability on display. 

We encourage entrants to also submit their film into the Into Film Awards, our annual ceremony which seeks to further honour and celebrate the incredible breadth and depth of young filmmaking talent in the UK.

Enter Competition

We recommend you enter using a desktop computer and an up to date browser

To enter, please complete the entry form. You will then be instructed to upload your film and you will receive confirmation on the upload page that this has been successful. If you are aged 17 or under, please make sure you ask a parent or guardian to complete the entrant details part of the form. Films can also be entered by a parent/guardian, teacher or other adult on behalf of a young person or group of young people.

We are looking for the most creative and engaging short films, with strong stories. In order to be shortlisted for the judges' consideration, entrants must meet the following criteria:

  • You must be between 5 and 19 years of age at the time of submitting your film (if your film has been made by a group of young people, the average age of all members must be 19 and under).
  • Your film should be no longer than 10 minutes in duration, including titles and credits
  • Any music, video or still images used in the film should be cleared for use by the copyright holder or be copyright free (please refer to the downloable IP checklist below for more information on this)
  • You must NOT feature the surnames of any young people under the age of 18, anywhere in the film, including the titles and credits. Into Film are committed to the protection and safety of young people, and the addition of surnames in your films can compromise this. If surnames are included in your film, your entry may be disqualified.

We will not be judging technical ability alone. Judges will use the following criteria to make their decisions on the winning film:

  • 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

The following are NOT eligible for entry to Film of the Month:

  • Training videos
  • Music videos
  • 'Making of' documentaries
  • Trailers or extracts of longer films
  • Straightforward recordings of arts (or other) events
  • Film clips made soley for the purpose of curriculum learning (such as record and playback)
  • Video diaries or vox pops

You can view our terms and conditions here.

Each month, one winning film will be selected and the young filmmakers will receive an Into Film goody bag, have their film showcased on the Into Film Shorts YouTube channel, and be interviewed for a news story on the Into Film website.

Downloads

Two girls behind camera with one boy to side, in Into Film t-shirts.
pdf

Top Tips for Young Filmmakers

Top tips on making sure your film is compliant before it is completed.

Size: 932 KB

Two boys directing a short film

Filmmaking

Start teaching your students to make films with our resources and guidance.

Jeremy Irvine and young people at the Into Film Awards

Into Film Awards

Find out about our awards celebrating young filmmakers and film clubs.

Still from training video - kids in class.

Training

Learn how to make the most of film in education with our training programme.

Secondary students using filmmaking equipment

Competitions

Win filmmaking equipment, DVDs, and other prizes.