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Young, diverse filmmakers from Cardiff to shine in London

21 Jun 2025 7 minute read
Animated Voices – Made by 10 young people aged 13-14 from Cardiff, working with Gritty Realism Productions, Diverse Cymru and EYST

Ten young people from Cardiff, with diverse ethnic minority backgrounds including Nigerian, Pakistani, Egyptian and Bangladeshi, are heading to London this month to attend the Into Film Awards 2025, after their film Animated Voices received a Best Animation nomination.

Of the 11 categories in total, Wales has received seven nominations – the highest number of nominations of any Celtic nation across the UK – ‘breaking the country’s record’ and demonstrating the strength of the film industry in Wales.

Working with Gritty Realism Productions and supported by the Welsh Government through Diverse Cymru in partnership with EYST (the Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team), the group of young filmmakers have created an authentic animated exploration of their personal experiences of life in the UK.

Thirteen-year-old filmmakers Aafaq and Haseeb Imran enjoyed the process: “Me and my brother really liked the animation sessions and we would like to explore more about animation.”

Animated Voices – Made by 10 young people aged 13-14 from Cardiff, working with Gritty Realism Productions, Diverse Cymru and EYST

Eleven-year-old Yunus Rehman’s mother commented on her son’s experience: “Yunus said he really enjoyed making cartoons and it was exciting to visit the studio to see how films are made. This was his first time doing something on his own, making new friends without his sisters.”

The filmmaking process involved a comprehensive series of workshops introducing participants to different aspects of animation production, including character design, voicing, lip-syncing and cut-out animation techniques. The young people worked with established creative professionals from diverse backgrounds including graphic artist Derek Mawudoku, actor Bethan James, scriptwriter Mitra Sanei and animator Gerald Conn. The project culminated with a visit to a post-production studio, giving the participants insight into professional career paths in the animation industry.

“Powerhouse”

Joining other nominees from Merthyr Tydfil, Conwy, Gwynedd and Swansea, the ten young filmmakers who will attend the star-studded, red-carpet event at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London on Tuesday 24 June are: Haseeb Imran (13), Aafaq Imran (13), Ayman Gani-Mustapha (13), Faris Gauvain (14), Alimato Cassama (13), Yunus Rehman (11), Shirin Conn (13), Zara Ahmed (14), Aisha Darboe (13), and Omar Rafi (13). The ceremony will be hosted by actor, presenter and author, Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE.

Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership

Commenting on the young people’s success, Minister for Culture Jack Sargeant, said: “Wales is showing itself to be a powerhouse of young creative talent, as can clearly be seen by the record-breaking number of Welsh nominees this year.

“Creative Wales is committed to building on the momentum of productions like Havoc or Mr Burton to secure a bright future for Welsh filmmaking, developing sustainable pathways from school projects to international productions. The exceptional stories these young people are telling today represent the next generation of talent who will continue to build Wales’ growing influence in global creative industries. Pob lwc bawb!”

This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for Wales’ film industry, following the recent success of Havoc (the Netflix action thriller starring Tom Hardy and the largest feature film ever shot entirely within Wales) and Mr Burton, produced with financial support from BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with Creative Wales.

The diversity of Welsh nominees this year is particularly noteworthy, with young filmmakers from urban to rural communities, representing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Animated Voices, created by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Cardiff, explores their personal experiences of life in the UK, while Mariupol offers a powerful perspective on the war in Ukraine through the eyes of a displaced individual.

Diversity

Non Stevens, Head of Into Film Cymru, who wants to work more with Creative Wales to support a thriving film ecosystem extended from major international productions to nurturing young grassroots talent, said: “We’re thrilled to see diverse young Welsh voices achieving record-breaking recognition at this year’s Into Film Awards. These nominations represent communities across Wales and tell stories that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of our nation. At Into Film Cymru, we believe in creating opportunities for all young people, regardless of background, and these nominations demonstrate the power of inclusive filmmaking.

“From Penygroes to Cardiff, from animation to documentary, these young creators are telling authentic stories with exceptional creativity and technical skill. The record number of nominations this year not only reflects growing confidence and talent but also shows how film education can inspire the next generation of Welsh storytellers who will build on our current industry success.”

Best Animation – 5 to 11 years

 

(Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)

Cae yr Arth (Cae the Bear) – Made by a class of 30 young people aged 9-10 from Caedraw Primary School, Merthyr Tydfil

 

Best Animation – 12 to 19 years

 

(Sponsored by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, UK)

Animated Voices – Made by 10 young people aged 13-14 from Cardiff, working with Gritty Realism Productions, Diverse Cymru and EYST.

 

Best Documentary 

 

(Sponsored by IMDb)

Mariupol – Made by Daria Savchenko, aged 18, from Gower College – Swansea

 

Time for Action

 

(Sponsored by Swatch)

Tipping Point – Made by Araminta, aged 16 – Conwy

 

Best Film – 5 to 11 years

 

(Sponsored by Working Title Films)

Ynyr yr Ysbryd (Ynyr the Ghost) – Made by Briall (aged 10), Celt (10), Elai (9) and Fflur (10), from Clwb Ffilm Dyffryn Nantlle – Penygroes, Gwynedd
Best Film – 16 to 19 years

 

(Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery)

Beware the Zoomies – Made by Araminta, Cole, Micah, and Ethan – Conwy

 

Filmmaking Champion

 

(Sponsored by Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Selected Filmmaking Champions are all Into Film Award winners. 

Steve Swindon from TAPE Community Music and Film – Llandudno 

Working with 16- to 19-year-olds with a wide range of additional needs, Steve strives to be a creative advocate. He has supported pupils to set up their own production company, Hope Productions, with their film Battery – a perfect example of Steve’s work in action (nominated for Best Film – 16-19 at the Into Film Awards 2024).

The Awards, sponsored by the UK film industry celebrate young people’s creativity in film, showcasing and highlighting the wealth of tomorrow’s creative talent. Other categories include Best Film – 12 to 15 years (Sponsored by Paramount Pictures); Best Story (Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios); the Audience Choice Award (Sponsored by Universal Pictures International); and Ones to Watch – (Sponsored by EON Productions).

This year’s Awards received an unprecedented number of film entries from every corner of the UK, with compelling and timely stories for young people including mental health, the war in Ukraine, gender identity, neurodivergence, multiculturism, the potential harms of AI, feeling disconnected and isolated in modern society, nature conservation, immigration and identity, looking after an unwell parent, the need to stop scrolling on social media, and much more.

All nominations showcase the phenomenal breadth and depth of young filmmaking talent across the UK, but particularly in Wales.

This is a glitzy afternoon ceremony, which has previously been attended by some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Luke Evans, Rhys Ifans, as well as Daniel Craig, Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy, Simon Pegg, Martin Freeman and Naomie Harris.

For more information about Into Film, visit https://www.intofilm.org


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