Charity films compete for award

The Charity Film Awards is staged each year to recognise the best promotional films made for good causes and distributed across social media, including YouTube.

Following a public vote by more than 40,000 people, the 300 entries have been narrowed down to a 90-strong shortlist.

Judges will then whittle this down to five finalists including a winner across eight categories based on annual turnover.

Among 15 charities to go through in the £500,000 to £5m category is Book Aid International for its film “Reading ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ in the Great Rift Valley”.

The film shows a young girl whose life is enriched by reading the classic children’s book by Maurice Sendak in Kenya’s remote Great Rift Valley.

“We’re very proud of how this film showcases the way that books can enrich lives and we know it will help us engage new people in our charity’s work. The film has already been watched over 3,000 times – and its reach will only grow if we are lucky enough to win,” said Book Aid International’s Head of Communications Emma Taylor.

Others in the same category include Child Bereavement UK, LUPUS UK and WeSeeHope.

Those competing in the smallest charity category, those with less than £10,000 turnover, include Woodlands School Charitable Trust and Valgrays Border Collie and Animal Rescue.

Those in the £50m and above turnover category to be shortlisted include NSPCC, Cancer Research UK and Cats Protection.

The winners will be revealed at an event in London in the Spring.