Online safety films created by young people are set to be used as educational resources across the UK, as Childnet announce winners of the 2019 national online safety Film Competition.
Leading online safety charity Childnet recently announced the winners of the tenth annual Childnet Film Competition. Representatives from government, industry, charities and wider attended the event alongside the competition finalists at the British Film Institute (BFI).
Each year the Childnet Film Competition invites schools and youth organisations from across the UK to capture their internet safety messages in a short film. The two winning films and four finalists are decided by a panel of industry experts and will see their films used to educate other young people about online safety and inspire others to use the internet positively and safely.
Childnet Film Competition inspiring young people since 2010
For the past 10 years the Childnet Film Competition has harnessed the positive role of peer-to-peer education and provide a creative and inclusive approach to empower and inspire young people aged 7-18 to use technology safely, positively and creatively.
With over 100 entries across both the primary and secondary categories, this year we have seen young people create an amazing variety of films ranging from news reports to animations. The films look at young people’s vision for a better internet, and the young people have been very creative in thinking about some key things a safer internet in the future looks like to them.
The winners of this year’s Film Competition were Sandown Primary School in the primary category with their film ‘The Internet Belongs to me, and this is how it's going to be’. In the secondary category, the winners were Christleton High School with their film ‘New Tools, Better Outcomes’.
This year BBC Own It will also showcase the finalists’ films, providing a unique opportunity for the young people to reach even more of their peers with their online safety messages.
Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet, said:
“Over the last 10 years we have seen some amazing films entered in the competition, and it is so exciting to see how these have changed over the years. The 2019 Film Competition has seen some really inspiring entries, which show creative skills and a real passion for online safety and educating their peers. Each year we run this competition we have had great support, including from our excellent team of judges.
We have seen the impact that these films can have, with many schools across the UK using them as educational tools. The finalists' event was a great opportunity for the young people to see their films on the big screen at the BFI and to celebrate their creativity and achievements.”
The Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, gave his thoughts on the event:
“The competition’s theme, “Our Future Online”, is one that we fully support at the Department for Education. Well done on putting your time, energy and creativity into coming up with ideas for making the internet a better place for us all. (...)Whoever wins today, you are all inspiring. Wherever I go in the UK, I am always energised and rejuvenated by meeting young people like you. And it fills me with confidence for the future of our internet knowing that it will be in your generation’s hands.”
Judged by a panel of experts
The films were judged by Lisa Prime Children’s Events Programmer at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Catherine McAllister Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection BBC Children’s, David Austin OBE Chief Executive at the BBFC, and Joanna van der Meer Film Tutor and Family Learning Programmer at BFI Southbank.
The winning films from the Childnet Film Competition can be viewed here: www.childnet.com/film-competition
