Into Film
Find out about how we're helping young people get into filmmaking
Lights, Camera, Action!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Into Film to bring the magic of storytelling and filmmaking to Scout groups across the UK!
Together, we’ve created free fun activities to inspire young people to tell their own stories through film. They’ll learn new skills, get creative, and even have the chance to own an Into Film blanket badge!
Storytelling through film is a great way for young people to express themselves, build confidence, and work as a team. We can’t wait to see what they create!
To watch in full screen, double click the video
Planning activities for your Explorer Scout section this summer? Into Film has teamed up with Universal Pictures to launch a creative competition inspired by Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey, and your young people could get involved.
The challenge is all about making the everyday epic. Young people aged 15+ are invited to take an everyday moment from their lives and reimagine it as a larger-than-life story. They can enter through drawing, filmmaking or writing, creating either 6 illustrations, 6 shots or up to 600 words.
This could work brilliantly as part of an Explorer Scout programme, a creative challenge night, or even as a project young people complete independently over the summer holidays.
There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including a brand-new Apple iPad and Sony ZV-E10 vlogging camera for the winning entry. Two runners up will also receive official The Odyssey merchandise packs.
The competition is open throughout the summer holidays and closes on Friday 4 September. It’s aimed at young people aged 15–19, making it ideal for Explorer Scout sections.
Alongside the competition, Into Film will also be offering free activity packs packed with competition sheets, postcards and a The Odyssey film poster to help you run sessions with your section over the summer.
Full information on how to enter is available on the Into Film site.
New Competition alert!
Into Film have partnered with Wildscreen to invite young people aged 5-19 from across the UK to get out into nature and tell their own wildlife stories through film.
From the birds in your garden to the environments in your community, every story counts.
- £600 filmmaking kit bundle for the winner
- Exciting prizes for runner ups
- Online wildlife filmmaking masterclass for all entrants
Entries open until Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 12:00pm (midday)
Encourage your young people to discover the magic of wildlife storytelling and show how film can connect us to the natural world. Follow the link for more information
Why Get involved
Learning how to write short stories, turn them into scripts, storyboard, and create short films is a great way for young people to develop important skills for life.
Boost Creativity – Young people get to use their imagination to come up with unique stories and bring them to life.
Improve Communication – Writing and filming help them express their thoughts clearly, whether through words or visuals.
Build Confidence – Seeing their ideas take shape and sharing them with others can boost self-esteem.
Encourage Teamwork – Film-making is rarely a solo effort. It teaches them how to work with others, listen to ideas, and compromise.
Teach Problem-Solving – Things don’t always go to plan in filmmaking, so they learn to think on their feet and find solutions.
It’s easy to bring filmmaking to your Scouts group!
Head over to the Into Film website, where you’ll find a range of activities created specially for Scouts.
There’s a leader pack and worksheets covering scriptwriting, storyboarding, and 15-minute filmmaking, plus helpful how-to videos to guide you every step of the way.
The first time you head over, you'll need to register to access the resources. It's completely free and should only take 5 minutes.
Get started today and give young people the chance to explore storytelling in a fun, creative way!
Activities
Once you've signed up, you can access a range of fantastic resources on the Into Film website for free. Check out a summary of the activities available below.
Already registered? Then head to the resources page to download everything you need here: Into Film resources page
The aim of this activity is to:
- Understand the effect that a long take can have on the audience
- Plan, film and evaluate a long take against the specified brief.
The aim of this activity is to:
- Identify a range of camera shot types
- Introduce a character using a certain number of shots and shot types.
The aim of this activity is to:
- Identify low-key lighting
- Capture a still that uses low-key lighting
- Discuss how to capture the shot and what effect it achieves
The aim of this activity is to:
- Understand the effect that different camera angles can have on portraying a character
- Build confidence in using different camera angles to portray a character
The aim of this activity is to:
- Understand what Foley sound is and why it is used on film
- Use everyday objects to create Foley sound effects for specific film content
The aim of this activity is to:
- Understand how verbal and non-verbal communication is used on screen
- Create character motivation and craft dialogue and internal thoughts
The aim of this activity is to:
- Identify a panning and pulling out camera movement
- Use panning or pulling out camera movements to reveal something to the audience
The aim of this activity is to:
- Understand the defining features of the expressionist and realist genres in film
- Apply some of the principles of expressionism to re-imagine a short film example based on realism
- Plan an expressionist interpretation of a short film example using a storyboard
The aim of this activity is to:
- Consider different ways to capture a moment on film
- Plan and shoot a short sequence that transforms a character on screen
The aim of this activity is to:
- Identify how special effects can be made using camera angles, movements and props
- Creatively plan a flying sequence
The aim of this activity is for young people to:
- Learn to collaborate with peers to make a film
- Develop their creative and predictive writing skills by creating a short script
- Develop their technical skills to create a one-shot film
- Watch, analyse and learn from the films of their peers
Get your Into Film Blanket Badge
Celebrate the magic of filmmaking with the Into Film Blanket Badge, created in partnership with Scouts. This colourful badge comes with suggested activities to help young people explore storytelling through film.
The Into Film blanket badge is available to purchase from Scout store here: Into Film Blanket Badge
Free Film Screening Tickets for Scout Groups
We’re excited to share a fantastic opportunity for Scout groups across the UK, thanks to our new partnership with Into Film.
As part of this partnership, Scout groups can attend the Into Film Festival - the world’s largest youth focused film festival - completely free of charge.
In 2025 the Into Film Festival ran from 7th to 28th November, offering an exciting programme of film screenings, special previews, Q&As with filmmakers, and careers workshops across the UK. It was a brilliant way to introduce young people to the world of film and spark inspiration for future careers in the screen industries. We expect the 2026 dates to be released in late June or early July.
With many films accompanied by discussion guides and additional takeaway resources, the festival is more than just a trip to the cinema, it’s a chance to bring stories to life and start meaningful conversations.
The 2024 festival saw over 330,000 young people take part in 2,500 events across 500 cinemas, making it a truly special experience, and this year is shaping up to be even bigger!
To take part, you’ll need to sign up to Into Film. It’s completely free and only takes around 10 minutes. Once registered, make sure you tick the option to receive festival updates so you’re first to hear when free tickets are released for 2026 – please note: they go fast!
Don’t miss out on this brilliant opportunity for your group, sign up today and get ready to explore the magic of film with your Scouts.
Transferable Skills
Writing & Storytelling – Helps with essays, presentations, and any job that involves written communication.
Planning & Organisation – From structuring a story to planning film shoots, these skills are useful in school and work.
Technical Skills – Learning how to use a camera, edit footage, and understand lighting is valuable in many creative industries.
Collaboration – Working with others, giving and receiving feedback, and managing roles are key skills in any career.
Resilience & Adaptability – Projects often don’t go as expected, so they learn to adapt and keep going.
These experiences prepare young people for a range of careers, not just in film and media, but in any field that values creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
About Into Film
Into Film is the UK's leading charity for film in education and the community. We provide screen industry careers information and advice, support young filmmakers, and bring the power of moving image storytelling into classroom teaching.
The core Into Film programme is free for UK state schools, colleges and other youth settings, thanks to support from the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding and through other key funders including Cinema First and Northern Ireland Screen.
Check out the video below to see some of the fantastic work produced by young people in partnership with Into Film.
To watch in full screen, double click the video