Award Winners announced at Children's International Film Festival 2026

June 23, 2026

UK’s largest children’s international film festival held in Hastings on 18.06.26
Under 16’s around the world united through filmmaking, with Award Winners announced from as far afield as Taiwan, Belgium, Australia, India, UK
The Flagship School in Hastings announced as winner of three Awards
Action-packed day with workshops, BMX bike displays, film screenings, children’s choirs
Over 750 schoolchildren from across Hastings & St Leonard’s engaged, with funding support from Hastings Borough Council

On Thursday 18^th June, Hastings hosted the Children’s International Film Festival. Supported by leading organisations, including BAFTA, The British Museum, The National Film and Television School, and Into Film, the festival took inspiration from the Bayeux Tapestry.

Over 750 children from schools across Hastings and St Leonard’s engaged with the Festival and participated in an action-packed day, which included workshops led by film industry experts, BMX bike displays and children’s choirs.

The event culminated with an Awards Gala at the White Rock Theatre, where winners of The Children’s International Film Festival 2026 Awards were announced.

Logan from The Flagship School Hastings, winner of The Week Junior “Star of the Year” Award
© CIFF – Alice Denny

Helena Dollimore MP for Hastings, Rye & the villages said: "I'm delighted that Hastings hosted the Children's International Film Festival 2026. It provided a fantastic opportunity for children across our town to work with leading figures from the film industry and see their creativity celebrated on screen. I strongly believe the arts should be accessible to all young people, regardless of background, and it is wonderful to see events like this opening doors."

Helena Dollimore MP for Hastings, Rye & the Villages at the Festival © The Bright Foundation – Alice Denny

Over 600 short films by under 16’s were entered into the Awards, from countries as far afield as New Zealand, Australia, India, Taiwan, Belgium, USA and the Dominican Republic, with winners in seven categories.

Two of the Awards were specially created in partnership with Hastings arts education charity The Bright Foundation by engaging with local schools to produce short films. The winners of these awards were selected from a shortlist by a youth jury, with guest panelist Trix Worrell – Hastings-based screen writer, director and creator of C4’s The Desmonds.

"Film enriches lives around the world.” Festival founder George Young said. “Our purpose is to encourage children to make something wonderful and fun, and to share their creativity with others. Hastings and its community welcomed the festival, with support from The Bright Foundation, Hastings Borough Council and the amazing workshop venues. We are delighted with the variety and caliber of entries submitted by young filmmakers around the world into this year’s Awards”

Extreme Filmmaking at Source Park © CIFF – Alice Denny

The Thief of Time | Taiwan - Taipei Municipal Gu Ting Elementary School and Taipei Municipal Mingchuan Elementary School - Winner Art Design of the Year supported by The British Museum & presented by David Bryan (Production Design and Art Director credits include Horrible Histories)
The Other Planet | Belgium - Winner Sound Design of the Year supported by Ciné Schools & presented by Tarn Willers (BAFTA & Academy Award winner for Best Sound credits include Woman in Black and BBC TV Holby City)
Grandpa’s Camera | Trinity Grammar School, Australia - Winner Shot of the Yearsupported by Access NFTS (outreach programme National Film & Television School)
Curtis - Chalk, Dust & Blood | UK The Flagship School - Winner Performance of the Year supported by Ciné Acting. & presented by Tallulah Martinez from Hastings character artist, BAFTA Young Games Designer of Year 2024

Manzar : A Portrait of an Artist, Scottish High International School, India - Winner International Film of the Year supported by Phase Worldwide & presented by international documentary filmmaker Jonathan Maguire.
The Flagship School Hastings - Winner of The Bright Film of the Yearsupported by The Bright Foundation & presented by Trix Worrell, Cllr Glenn Haffenden (Leader Hastings Borough Council)
Logan from The Flagship School Hastings – Winner Star of the Year Presented by Vanessa Harris, Editor of The Week Junior

The Flagship School Hastings were the winners of three Awards. The Flagship is a special school for pupils from year 3 to year 11, who have the capacity to reach age related expectation yet whose neuro-diverse profiles, alongside additional social, emotional and mental health, result in significant barriers to learning.

12-year-old student Logan from The Flagship School won The Week Junior Star of the Year Award. He says, “I felt quite excited, very nervous and it was quite a surprise” When asked what winning the Bright Foundation Star of the Year Award meant to him, Logan replied. “It means that people can do their dreams and make films with other people from all around the world!”

Grégoire Godin, Headteacher Flagship Special Educational Needs School Hastings added on receiving The Bright Film of the Year Award:

“It means the world. In just a few weeks, your team and ours have achieved something that can take us years in school – bringing together students from different backgrounds and helping them build a genuine sense of community. At school they often don't mix, but here you see them hugging, cheering, applauding one another and celebrating each other's success.

Giving them the opportunity to step onto a stage and be recognised for their potential is extraordinary. Spending hours with unfamiliar people, supporting others, showing patience, and celebrating everyone else's success is an achievement in itself.

It opens their eyes to the many different careers and opportunities within filmmaking and beyond. Most importantly, days like this broaden their horizons and connect them with the wider community. They are seen not through the usual label of 'students with social, emotional and mental health difficulties', but simply as young people with talent and potential. That is huge”.