Lisa Prime (Head of Children & Young People’s Programme) BAFTA
Lisa heads up BAFTA’s programme for children and young people, overseeing events, content and initiatives for under 18s. The focus is on the importance of creativity in supporting mental wellbeing; the development of transferrable skills; highlighting different roles and careers across film, games and television. She is also responsible for competitions which identify and support young talent: BAFTA Young Game Designers and Young Presenters.
Why you have decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
It’s so important that young people have the opportunity to share their thoughts on subjects directly impacting their lives. Visual storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to share your message and I always enjoy viewing the different interpretations of the competition theme.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
I’ve been visiting schools with children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, for eight years and recognise how vital it is for young people to have a safe space to talk whether that’s a physical space or online. An online community can help you feel connected and supported when used in a positive way so I’m intrigued to see the suggestions from young people.
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
I’m always looking for something that will resonate with other young people – it has to be an honest authentic voice. If it also feels fresh and original, that’s a real bonus.
Hannah Salt (Producer) BBC Own It
Hannah is a BBC Producer and Scriptwriter
Why you have decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
The Childnet Film Competition offers young people a platform for their creativity, and a way to develop their skill and find voice as filmmakers. All you need to do to be a filmmaker, is film! I had early exposure to writing and film making opportunities that shaped who I am today, where I work and what I create. So, it’s vital to hear what the next generation have to say, and for Childnet to give them the opportunity is fantastic. I can’t wait to see what they make, and where it takes them.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
I’m really interested in the responses to this theme, from young people who are social media native. The future of how we interact with each other online is in their hands. I think consideration of how we can talk, reach out and support each other online gives us reason to be optimistic!
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
I’ll be looking for originality, authenticity and a bold voice to come through in this year’s films. Scripts written from a place of honesty and vulnerability should bring universal appeal and understanding.
David Austin OBE (Chief Executive) BBFC
David joined the BBFC in 2003 as an Examiner after a career in the Diplomatic Service, serving in South Asia, Central Africa and the former Yugoslavia. In 2011, he became Assistant Director, Policy and Public Affairs, before becoming Chief Executive in March 2016. David is a member of the Board of the Cinema Advertising Association (CAA) and a Trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Why have you decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
I am thrilled to be a judge on the Childnet Film Competition again this year. It is always enjoyable to celebrate the array of talent and creativity evident amongst young people, and to see each year how the entrants interpret the specific online safety theme. Here at the BBFC, we are passionate about the importance of providing audiences across the UK with a range of necessary information to help them make informed and age-appropriate viewing decisions. This competition very much chimes with our focus on helping children and families choose well by providing them with the guidance they need to help them decide what’s right for them and avoid what’s not.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
This year’s theme is both timely and important. It is also particularly relevant to the work that we do at the BBFC, where we have been responsible for classifying content for over 110 years. We have seen first hand how media consumption has evolved over the years, with the use of our age ratings extending beyond our role in classifying films released in UK cinemas and on DVD and Blu-ray, to reflect how people watch and consume content more broadly. This includes classifying for Video On Demand (VOD) and streaming services, music videos online, and helping Mobile Network Operators set parental controls to protect children from unsuitable content.
While the internet provides us with many new opportunities to remain connected, it also creates new challenges, particularly for children. This increased reliance on the internet has highlighted the need for us to be more mindful of our interactions online, and to support each other in creating a safer digital environment.
The theme shows us that we all have a responsibility to promote positive interactions and to equip children with the tools they need. Having a safe space for children to navigate these
conversations with parents and teachers alike is crucial to their healthy development and wellbeing. This year’s competition is a reminder that it is our duty as adults, caregivers, and educators to listen to young people and keep in mind that our decisions affect their future.
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
I am very much looking forward to all of the entrants expressing their thoughts on this topic through the captivating and brilliant medium of film. I will be looking out for the ways in which people combine creativity with storytelling, throwing a fresh light on individual experiences and providing unique viewpoints and angles in response to this year’s theme. It’s set to be yet another fantastic year of entries that will undoubtedly impress, while helping to spread the word about the importance of being safe online. Good luck to all!
Mark Reid (Head of UK Learning Programmes) BFI
Mark is head of UK learning programmes at the BFI (the British Film Institute). Mark was a teacher before joining the BFI and enjoys his job so much that he’s been there for over 20 years.
Why you have decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
At the BFI we think it’s very important for children to be safe online, and to understand how to navigate and enjoy internet and social media content safely. We also think that film is a great way of communicating ideas in a clear and engaging way.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
it’s really important that we use online content and tools and media for positive reasons, for support and conversation and healthy interaction, and that we share good models for doing so.
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
Every year we look for the same things – sparky imagination, distinctive voices, creative use of what film can do – with images, sound, and movement.
Jess – previous competition winner and former Digital Champion (Digital Champions are ambassadors for the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme)
Jess was a Childnet Digital Champion between 2019 – 2022. In 2020 she won first place in the Childnet Film Competition, with her stop-motion animation for her film titled ‘Free To Be You, Free To Be Me’. Jess is now at college, and this will be her first time as a competition judge.
Why have you decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
Childnet have supported me all throughout my Secondary school experience, starting with the Digital Leaders Programme, to the Digital Champions team, to even visiting my school during my last year with them. Being able to return this year for the Childnet Film Competition is such an honour, and it feels as though I’ve been able to come full circle from entering the film comp to now judging it. The film competition is such a wonderful creative outlet for young people, giving the chance to convey a message and use knowledge in such innovative and imaginative ways. The competition allows young people a chance to translate what’s important to them in their online world to something that can make a real impact.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
I think the focus on getting talking in this year’s theme is really important, as that’s how we can really start to bring about change. By talking to each other, sharing our experiences, and supporting each other online, we can make our voices heard both online and offline, something that can be tricky for young people otherwise. By remaining silent about issues we want to change online, we become compliant in their existence and change becomes stagnant. However, this year’s theme really inspires young people to think about what positive change they want to see online and how to vocalise this to make their voices heard.
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
I’ll be looking for fresh, new, innovative ways to tell stories and start a conversation between young people and the wider digital community. I’ll be looking for films that are both creative and engaging, but also show the real heart and passion behind the message. Creativity has always been what I’ve been drawn to in all areas of life, as I believe it’s one of the best ways we can engage people and inspire them to keep conversations going and change occurring. So please, go wild with new medias, ideas, techniques to tell your story! Your love and passion for what you’re making will naturally shine through.
Stan McCoy (President and Managing Director) MPA
Stan is the MPA (Motion Picture Association) President and Managing Director of the region covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). The MPA is the leading advocate of the film, television, and streaming industry around the world, with members including Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.
Why have you decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
We’ve supported the Childnet Film competition for several years now, and I have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to sit on the judging panel. It’s a privilege to support the next generation of filmmakers and help to encourage their love of the craft – by that I mean the creative, the technical, and the collaborative. Creativity needs to be nurtured, and it should be shared too. Making films is a group endeavour.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
Both Childnet and the MPA have been huge advocates for internet safety – it’s one of the most important issues we champion. The Childnet film competition perfectly illustrates how keeping children safe online and making the internet a safer space for the creative economy are two sides of the same coin. It’s also important to learn for those who will go on to be our next great filmmakers, because it will eventually protect them in return. That way we ensure the long-term sustainability of this wonderful industry.
I also love the word ‘support’ in this year’s theme, because it highlights the importance of collaboration in creative endeavours. All your favourite films and TV shows are a team effort, the result of an army of people coming together in pursuit of a common goal – whether they are directors, set designers, carpenters, electricians or costume designers.
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
I love films that have a distinctive creative voice, and I also love films that showcase successful collaboration by a group of young people. Authenticity of voice and creative collaboration are the essence of good storytelling in film and television. You can always tell when someone is telling a story that’s fuelled by passion and an excitement for the narrative, the visuals, the sound – diverse elements coming together. The great thing about the Childnet film competition is that it encourages young people who enter it to pursue their passions and really listen to whatever it is that drives their curiosity. Telling stories and making films are about asking questions and looking for the answers that resonate with you.
I really hope that this year’s competition will encourage the entrants to continue to create, while also instilling in them an understanding of the importance of intellectual property in underpinning that creativity. This competition is about having fun, being artistic and collaborative and meeting like-minded people, but we can also learn about how vital it is to use legal sites to help make the internet an open, safe and valuable resource for everyone.
James Filippatos (Vice President for Global Public Policy) The Walt Disney Company
Jim is Vice President for Global Public Policy at The Walt Disney Company, where he is responsible for developing and directing strategic international public policy initiatives across the company. He focuses on media and Internet policy, human rights, children’s issues and business entry and expansion in developing markets, among other areas.
Why you have decided to support the Childnet Film Competition?
The Film Competition is a way for young people to talk to each other directly and openly about really important questions around online safety and digital citizenship. Letting young people direct the dialogue – literally direct it! – makes the messages more powerful and relatable for them as well as their parents, caregivers, teachers and policymakers. At the same time, supporting the Competition supports young people to build practical storytelling and filmmaking skills, which are important for what they’re learning and doing now and anything they might want to do later on.
What strikes you most about this year’s theme, “Time to talk! How can we support each other online?”
Young people spend a lot of time online socializing, studying, gaming, creating. They want an Internet where they and their friends can stay healthy and safe, feel included and have fun and positive experiences. What a timely and important opportunity to ask young people to tell a story about how they think we can all work together to create that kind of online space!
What you will be looking for in the films submitted this year?
Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do at Disney and a great story is the number one thing in any terrific film. It’s not easy to tell a big story in a few minutes in a way that really draws in the audience and leaves them wanting more. If a film can do that, it will be fun to watch and give a new perspective about having positive, safe, inclusive conversations online. I’m definitely excited to review this year’s submissions!