OVER 700 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE SMILEY CFA AT THE ODEON LUXE IN LEICESTER SQUARE.
TNM HAD THE PLEASURE OF CHATTING TO THE WINNERS, ATTENDEES AND PRESENTERS ABOUT THEIR WORK, THEIR CAUSES AND WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CHARITY INDUSTRY.
Prize categories are based on how much money different charities raise. With brackets ranging from under £100,000 to £100m+, the CFA recognises the full spectrum of charity films designed to raise money and awareness for their causes.
THE GRAND PRIX CHARITY FILM OF THE YEAR WINNER: WELSH REFUGEE COUNCIL
We spoke to Memet Ali Alabora, a Turkish actor and civil rights activist, who directed the prize-winning film, ‘Wales is a Nation of Sanctuary’, which focuses on the UK government’s nationality and borders bill.
Under new plans aimed at preventing illegal immigration, asylum seekers who arrive on small boats through the Channel will not be allowed to stay in the UK.
Harriet Protheroe-Soltani, of the Welsh Refugee Council, told TNM that “the narrative around ‘stop the boats’ needs to be challenged”, adding that “it’s an international human right for people to claim asylum”.
Hassan Akkad, who won the Special Recognition award for his film with Choose Love which responded to the Turkey-Syria earthquake crisis, criticised the UK Home Secretary’s stance on asylum seekers:
Alabora, himself a political refugee, also addressed the global response to the Turkey-Syria earthquake, which has killed over 56,000 people and left more than 2.5m displaced. He told TNM:
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“In times of crises, we forget about everything. We forget about our identities. We forget about our countries. We forget about where we come from and we just help each other. That’s what makes us human.”
CELEBS ON WHY THEY CAME OUT TO SUPPORT THE CHARITY FILM AWARDS
Throughout the night, various awards were presented by different celebrities including actors Jason Watkins (Nativity, Line of Duty) and Kathy Kiera Clarke (Derry Girls).
We caught up with former love island stars Faye Winter and Curtis Pritchard, who was joined by his brother, reality TV star AJ Pritchard. We asked them about what charity means to them.
Winter, who has worked previously with guide dogs and for the Royal Voluntary Service, is currently campaigning with PETA. They want to replace bearskin used in the hats by the Ministry of Defence Queen’s Guards with animal-friendly faux fur.
Tiktok influencer Maddy Grace Jepsen, was also in attendance. She said that she came to raise awareness amongst her audience about how they can support charitable causes.
Brothers AJ and Curtis recently spoke out about loneliness and mental health in a campaign for the charity Mind. Curtis told us that the experience of losing two friends when he was very young has made him eager to help charitable causes through his career.
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Next week, the brothers will run the Landmark London Half Marathon to fundraise for Mind.
WHO WERE THE WINNERS?
18 charities won awards for films ranging from topics such as support for care workers in the UK to access to water for people in Somaliland.
Large charities, like Barnados, Action Aid, Nacro and the Teenage Cancer Trust won awards, and smaller charities, such as the Wave project, the Harry Kane Foundation and Boys in Mind were also winners.
Some charities stood out, such as Martlet’s Hospice who won the 2-5m award for their film Marc’s story, which followed Marc, an actor and singer who found out during the pandemic that he had terminal cancer.
After having his larynx removed in life-saving surgery, Marc was unable to carry on singing which deeply affected his mental health. But after support from Martlet’s Hospice he felt able to reignite and pursue his passion for musical theatre.
Other standouts include the Young Westminster Foundation, supported by our partners The Media Trust, who won an award for their film about youth workers’ efforts to tackle violence in the borough.
My Life, My Choice, a charity which helps people with learning difficulties in Oxfordshire also picked up an award for their film about travel buddies. Two of its contributors, Charlene and Luke, celebrated the win on behalf of the filmmakers.