Following the success of last years’ Open Category at the Young Film Awards 2024, Young Film Academy (YFA) are delighted to announce that submissions are open again for 2025!

Since 1998, the YFA community has gathered at the end of summer in London to host the Young Film Awards. This prestigious event recognises and rewards the finest international young filmmaking and screen acting talent, aged 8-18. This year we’re upgrading our ceremony location to the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, London.

Previously the Young Film Awards have been only for those on YFA’s courses and programmes, but our Open Category enables us to recognise the young filmmaking talent across the world and outside of our programmes. It’s an amazing opportunity to have your work recognised by the UKʼs leading provider of filmmaking programmes for young people.

The Open Category is entirely open to aspiring young filmmakers from across the world aged 14-18, attendance at a YFA course is not required.

So if you are a young filmmaker aged 14-18 and would like to have your talents recognised at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, UK this Summer, we want to hear from you! Please read on to find out how you can enter.

Awards & Prizes

Best Film (Open Category - Ages 14-18)

The Young Film Awards will present a statuette and certificate to the winners and the winning film will be available for viewing through our website after the ceremony.

Nominees in this category will also be presented with a certificate.

Rules & Terms

Before you submit your film, please ensure you have read the following:

- The filmmakers of the submitted films must be or have been within the age limits of their respective categories at the time of their film's completion (14-18).

- Films must have been completed after 1st September 2023.

- Films must be no more than 10 minutes duration

- Films can be any style or genre, but they must be narrative fiction. Documentaries, music videos and other non-fiction mediums will not be accepted.

- Both UK and international entries are accepted and will be judged in the same categories.

- Films in languages other than English must include English subtitles where deemed necessary.

- By submitting your film to the Young Film Awards you give us permission to screen an extract from your film at the Young Film Awards ceremony and to share news of the film's nomination/win and screening on social media. You also give us permission to share the film digitally with viewers at home as part of a one-off live stream of the event that will conclude on 20th September 2025. Following the 20th September 2025, you are also giving YFA permission to hold and store the film within the Young Film Academy's archive as part of the wider recording of the Young Film Awards ceremony 2025. Full details will be confirmed in your Young Film Awards selection email if selected.

- We will notify all submitters of the outcome of their submission by July 1st 2025.

- Each winning film will be allocated tickets for no more than 4 attendees at the Award Ceremony at Prince Charles Cinema, London.

- The Young Film Awards does not agree to pay license or screening fees for the selected films.

- Due to the high volume of submissions received, Young Film Academy is unable to offer feedback.

- Should your film be nominated, you will need to supply either a downloadable file or link to the film via FilmFreeway.

- Should your film be nominated and should you attend the awards ceremony, you acknowledge that YFA may use for publicity purposes and without prior notification any photograph or audio/video material taken of the attendees at the location.

- By submitting your film you agree to the full terms and conditions as listed above.