Dagenham Beam County Primary School short film nominated for award

Nine pupils aged nine to 11 from Beam County Primary School have been nominated in the Best Film: 5-11 category at this year’s Into Film Awards for their short film, One Moment.

The awards, celebrating young filmmaking talent from across the UK, will take place on June 16 at the ODEON Luxe in London’s Leicester Square.

The school said: "Being recognised in this way is an exceptional honour for the Beam community. The film illustrated how ‘One Moment’ can shape a life forever, and this nomination stands as a defining moment, instilling a deep and lasting sense of pride in the children’s achievements."

One Moment tells the story of Amari, a disruptive pupil who is sent out of class and unexpectedly finds himself in the role of his teacher. Through this experience, he comes to understand the wider impact of his behaviour, particularly on his mother, and faces a crucial decision about whether to change his ways.

The film was created as part of a challenge set by Barking and Dagenham Film Enterprise, which asked students to produce a short film around the theme of metamorphosis.

Pupils gained valuable experience in all stages of filmmaking, from pre-production to post-production, and the final version of the film was edited by a professional director.

A film crew visited the school with a professional director to complete the production.

The project culminated in a special screening at Vue Cinema in Romford, where pupils watched their work on the big screen alongside family and friends.

Their film is now in the running for a top prize at a ceremony that has previously welcomed stars such as Hugh Grant, Daniel Craig, and Olivia Cooke.

The Into Film Awards is sponsored by the UK film industry and Into Film is supported by the BFI with National Lottery funding. It aims to highlight and celebrate the creativity of young people through film.

A full list of nominees and the nominated films can be found on the Into Film website.