Champions of change
CHARITY FILMS
Please demonstrate your support for the vital work done by these charities by finding out more about the extraordinary impact they are creating around the UK and the world by watching these films and donating to them directly via their websites.
CLIMATE CHANGE – HUNGER – HEALTH & WELL BEING – POVERTY – EDUCATION – MENTAL HEATH – CHILDREN – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – GENDER INEQUALITY – DISCRIMINATION – FOOD – CONSERVATION – INCLUSION – HOMELESSNESS – EMPLOYABILITY – ILLITERACY – LOSS & GRIEF
These films have been shortlisted to win multiple prizes for numerous sustainability areas that their work focuses on to bring much needed positive changes all around us.
The following finalists have been selected from hundreds of charity film entries received by the Big Syn International Film Festival, this year.
In this interconnected world, no matter how distant or irrelevant these causes may seem to you, in the grand scheme of things, lending a helping hand to address these issues will improve OUR lives no matter where we live and WHO we are.
CORAM
“Maleth, Meaning Shelter” is a film about mutual inextricability, about escalated righteousness, and about the birds that witness all of it from above. It was made as a thesis for UWE Bristol’s MA program in wildlife filmmaking—affiliated with the BBC’s NHU—but focuses on humans as much as wildlife. In searching for where and how cultural friction leads to capitulation, it’s also an ethnographic conservation film, spotlighting a real, contemporary environmental and political issue in the Mediterranean. While the specifics are limited to the context of threatened migratory birds over Malta, the opposing circumstances in which people feel they demonstrate their love for them, and the localized social weight of hunting as a long-established peculiarity attached to living on the island, I think the documentary short’s contents speak immediately and universally to the necessity of compromise, as well the practical difficulties that exist in its realization as caused by tradition neglecting an urgency in addressing biodiversity loss (in addition to showcasing the rhetorical dangers of disregarding the potent influence of such valued practices outright).
This short film highlights the extraordinary work of the St Albans Community Pantry. You’ll hear from both the dedicated volunteers and from the people who benefit directly from the charity’s services.
Service users like Robin, who faced food insecurity but was able to feed his family using the surplus food on offer at the Pantry; and James who comes to the charity’s community lunches to have a hot meal and combat his feelings of loneliness. SACP’s ethos of ‘closing the loop between food waste and food insecurity’ is explained clearly in this film.
We see one of the volunteers, Rachel, a ‘Rescue Ranger’ picking up food from a supermarket and delivering it to the pantry. This quality short life food would have ended up in landfill. We go on a drive with another volunteer, Kathryn as she hand delivers bespoke boxes of fresh food to vulnerable individuals and families who are isolated at home.
St Albans Community Pantry is a lifeline for so many and this video showcases how important and impactful the charity’s work is.
Music4Children is a Charity that connects children and young people through imaginative, creative, sustainable and well thought out programmes.
METRO Charity
A docuseries exploring mental health and wellbeing among LGBTQ+ identifying, Black, and Global Majority members of the community in Lewisham. Directed by Yorgo Glynatsis and Charlene Frost, these creative documentaries platform six incredible individuals from across the borough, who share their personal stories and experiences. Representation matters, and these Black and Global Majority voices will inspire the next generation of queer youth! Find out more about the project – www.metrocharity.org.uk/mental-health/well-proud
Zero hour
The short film, ‘Toadwatch: What has nature ever done for us?’, targets people who don’t normally think about the importance of nature, and how it fundamentally underpins most aspects of everyday life. Though the CAN Bill covers climate and nature action equally, we led with nature rather than climate in the Toadwatch film because nature is something people have a greater emotional connection to (carbon emissions leave people rather cold, but they get excited about the nature they can see outside their back door or in their local park). Nature is place-based so it feels more tangible. And since the Covid lockdowns, people in the UK have found just how important nature really is, particularly in their local vicinity.
People don’t always think of nature in this way, but nature is the air we breathe, the water we drink and swim in, it’s the soil we grow our food in, the beautiful landscapes we look out on in awe, it’s the peatland and trees and other biodiverse ecosystems which help lock up carbon…the list goes on!
Humour in the climate movement has been vastly under-utilised. Through a homage to Monty Python, we used some classic British silliness and understatement to land our message in the most effective way. The aim of the short film is for it to be a lightbulb moment for people, to realise that nature shouldn’t be taken for granted, that it supports most aspects of everyday life, and therefore is something they should care about protecting.
Children with Cancer UK
35 years of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, 35 years of Children with Cancer UK supporting families affected by childhood cancer. Children with Cancer UK stand by families’ sides and fund new less toxic treatments, improving the quality of life of those affected, support families throughout their journeys, and moments away from the day to day stresses. Getting a childhood cancer diagnosis affects everyone in that family. One day everything is fine, the next day life changes. A family enters a new normal, full of unknowns and uncertainties of what a cancer journey and hospital stay might look like. Many questions about how it might be like to be in the hospital. What is it like to be surrounded by strangers; away from home. What will the day look like? What happens during treatments? When can families be together? Will you make new friends? What will my medical treatment look like? What research has been done for my cancer type? Who will be by my side? Meet Corry. Corry helps you understand what a child that stays in hospital might be experiencing during their stay.
British Red Cross
Bringing new life into the world in the middle of a conflict zone is a terrifying reality for women across Ukraine. But the Red Cross Unbroken Mothers centre offers a safe and quiet space, away from the chaos and destruction, for expecting and new mums who have had to flee their homes.
The rooms here are alive with the incredible stories of women’s resilience. And the cries and giggles of happy babies, of course.
Sightsavers
Performed by Dereck Mpofu and Chipo Muchegwa, this powerful anthem drives the Equal Zimbabwe Campaign – a call for inclusion, equality, and the rights of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe. Music with a purpose, inspiring change and unity.
Derian House
PW: Buffalo8*
Derian dad Paul Woodward’s documentary, “The Little Things”, dives deep into the world of children’s hospices – and offers an exclusive look behind the scenes at Derian House Children’s Hospice, in Astley Village, Chorley. Directed by the award-winning Thomas Elliott Griffiths, the film highlights the moving stories and connections between families, staff, and volunteers, showcasing the blockbuster impact of hospice care.
League of Gentlemen creator and BAFTA winner Steve Pemberton – of Inside No. 9 and Benidorm fame – is one of the documentary’s executive producers. The documentary was released on 22nd August 2025.
Bereaved dad Paul Woodward, who produced “The Little Things”, has recently been announced as a Derian House Patron to recognise his outstanding contribution to the children’s hospice which looks after more than 400 children with life-limiting conditions, and families, from across the North West.
Rafiki Thabo Foundation is passionate about removing the barriers to education facing children and young people with disabilities. In our short film, we meet two of Rafiki Thabo’s disability programme partners, Autism Society of Kenya (ASK) and Dadashi Special Children’s Centre, as well as Lucy, one of the deaf scholars on Rafiki Thabo’s scholarship programme. The film is introduced by our patrons, blind TV presenter Amar Latif OBE and England Cerebral Palsy Footballer Harry Baker, who both feel such whole-hearted affinity with our work, and presented by Daina Kibera, our disability programme manager in Kenya. “We hug them”, Jane, a teacher at ASK says in the film, when she talks about the care they give the children and their parents at the therapy centre. These three words and the emotion behind them seem to capture not just ASK’s morning routine but the ethos of our disability programme partners and our scholarship programme in ensuring children with disability are given equal opportunity to a brighter future.
Parents for Future
Brits say sorry every day for little things—but what about the big things? Sorry our kids’ playgrounds are flooded, sorry the air isn’t safe. “Sorry” is easy until it isn’t. Let’s act NOW for a cleaner, safer climate future for all children in the UK. For our kids’ sake, let’s support the move away from fossil fuels.
Integrate UK
‘Butt Naked’ was developed by young activists from Integrate UK to highlight the impact of explicit content online on young people and on sexual violence.This uplifting, quirky music video highlights how online content can affect young people’s understanding of healthy, intimate relationships and fuel sexual violence. Their campaign calls for relevant education based on their current challenges, young people’s lived experience and the realities of what they face in digital spaces. Young people deserve support and guidance so they can feel confident and safe in the choices they make.
Friends of the Earth
In this short film we juxtaposed business jargon with scenes of a rainforest being destroyed to make way for corporate activity. We wanted to make the environmental harms in the supply chains of many UK companies very tangible and visible – much of this damage is typically ‘hidden’ to consumers as it happens overseas. Our creative idea was to depict an imagined CEO using expressions like “cost-cutting measures” and “it’s just business” to mask or justify activities like buying palm oil from destroyed forests that are home to precious species or financing the soy trade that forces communities from their land. The film ends with a resounding call to action: we want people to join us in demanding a new law requiring UK companies to avoid harm to people and the planet, and holding them to account if they fail.
South West Coast Path Association
The Trailblazer Walk chronicles the 55-day epic relay along the South West Coast Path undertaken in the spring of 2023, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the South West Coast Path Association. Narrated by Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path, the film highlights the beauty of the Coast Path and the people who have worked tirelessly to protect, care for and champion this world-class Trail.
REFUGE
Trigger warning: video contains stories of domestic abuse. Violence and abuse against women and girls shows up in so many ways. But so does Refuge. Domestic abuse is more than just physical abuse. From tracking someone’s phone, removing their bank account access or isolating them from friends and family, these insidious forms of abuse are becoming more common and can be even harder to spot. If you or someone you know needs help or is affected by the themes in this video contact our National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free on 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Mary’s meals
Zero Hunger Turkana is a moving documentary from the school feeding charity, Mary’s Meals, that explores the fight against food insecurity in Turkana County, Kenya. Through powerful interviews and commentary from Founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, the film highlights how a sustainable school feeding programme, delivered in partnership with local communities, is transforming lives and fuelling hope in one of Kenya’s most challenging regions.
Active Lancashire
Born into a dreamless world of violence, Paul reimagines his life, from childhood addiction and criminality to the pursuit of hope and human connection. Paul’s journey of resilience and redemption sheds light on his difficult past and his inspiring turnaround, made possible through the support of Active Lancashire’s innovative programmes. Pipedream has screened at prestigious film festivals across the country, winning multiple awards including Best Documentary at the BAFTA-qualifying Norwich Film Festival. A film by Aaron Dunleavy and Brody Salmon. Commissioned by Active Lancashire. If you have been affected by any of the issues in this film, the following organisations may be able to help: Change Grow Live Red Rose Recovery The Well Communities
Nightingale Hammerson
Nightingale Hammerson cares for over 200 older people in the Jewish community, providing CQC outstanding residential, nursing, dementia, rehabilitation, palliative and end-of-life care. Our charity supports everyone who comes to live with us, regardless of their financial means; nobody is turned away due to lack of funds. The fundraising team work hard to support our compassionate and highly skilled care teams in being able to deliver the best care. Our short film ‘Home is where the heart is’ supported a major fundraising event we held in our north London home last year. The aim was to give an insight into our two care homes and to let the audience know the importance of our fundraising. We let the residents and relatives tell everyone what Nightingale Hammerson means to them.
School Food Matters
Welcome celebrates the power of gardening to bring comfort, connection, and community to refugee children.
The programme began in June 2022, in response to the Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian crises, and harnesses the meditative qualities of gardening to help children settle into their new school. Each school establishes a gardening club, and children attend with a buddy who supports them and helps them to overcome language barriers. Being in the school garden gives children space to get their hands dirty, and form bonds with other children who are experiencing uprootedness.
Most of the children living in central London don’t have a garden, and many don’t even have a balcony. The film captures how food-growing provides children with a connection to their new home, and helps them to put down roots in England.
Campaign for learning
We want all parents to know how important they are to their child’s learning and feel motivated and confident to engage. At Campaign for Learning, we developed a parent-focused campaign – Parent Powered Learning – to boost parental engagement in learning and widen understanding about what it is.
Our short film, ‘It’s You’, highlights how much parents matter and raises awareness on the importance of parental engagement in learning. ‘It’s You’ is produced by the Volunteers’ Film Scheme 2024 X Media Trust and directed by Scott Pickup. It is part of a larger project supported by the Fair Education Alliance Innovation Award that we received in 2023.
Billy and beyond CIC
Billy and Beyond is a community interest company that offers free drugs education to all.
Testicular Cancer Charity
In the form of a poem, Rose describes how her husband, Tom, was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer and how it impacted them. By telling Rose & Tom’s story, we aim to encourage men to check themselves regularly for the signs and symptoms of the disease, to report to their GP if they find anything unusual, and that if they do so there can be a positive outcome.
The Boaz Trust
“Boaz helps me to have a bright future and makes me eager to live. I went through a lot in my past life. Boaz hope, it is a great hope.” – Rahel Hostility towards people seeking safety in the UK feels more intense than ever. We asked two people previously supported by the Boaz Trust to share their stories, and the difference love and kindness make. By giving to our Christmas Appeal, you’ll provide safe accommodation and trauma-informed, holistic support for people like Rahel and Viktar. But you’ll do more than that. You’ll help someone know they are valuable, remembered, and loved this Christmas.
WATERAID
In 2022-23, Malawi experienced the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history. It is now suffering from the worst drought in over a century, which has caused harvests to fail and water sources to run dry. This poses further risk to life though hunger and disease, with the UN warning of a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. Sisters Christina (22) and Chifuniro (19) lost their grandmother to cholera. This film is a unique first-hand account of this devastating illness – and the stigma that accompanies it. Cholera kills thousands of people in the world each year. It is entirely preventable.
Action for Children
Action for Children is driven by love. We take action so children don’t miss out on a safe and happy childhood. We have thousands of people working on the ground, giving children and young people the protection and practical help they urgently need. And we campaign tirelessly for lasting change. Find out more about our amazing work at actionforchildren.org.uk
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR)
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) is Scotland’s oldest military charity and – since 1910 – has been providing accommodation and support for Veterans who are homeless or in need.
This moving and thought-provoking mini documentary – produced by film-maker Rob Waugh – captures the essence of SVR’s purpose, work and mission. It shares the emotive stories of Veterans James, Gav, Del and Mark, and reveals how SVR helped them improve their lives and with their transition from military service to civilian life. There are also contributions from the CEO and key staff including SVR’s Occupational Therapist, external counsellor, and Join In Live Well Officer.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK’s animated film ‘Room for an elephant’ forms part of the charity’s comprehensive range of bereavement support resources and illustrates a specially written poem narrated by a young person. Inspired by the style of teen graphic novels, the film explores how taboos and awkwardness around talking about death and dying can prevent people from being supportive. Sadly, this reluctance to mention the ‘elephant in the room’ can result in bereaved young people feeling lonely and isolated. Child Bereavement UK hopes the film will help raise awareness of the difficulties of living with grief and encourage greater compassion and understanding.
Learning through Landscapes
It’s vital that our school grounds are adapted for a changing climate. Join Learning through Landscapes’ ‘Climate Ready School Grounds’ project to transform tarmac and mown grass into cool, carbon-absorbing, nature-rich spaces that protect our children and communities.
PW: snakehill24
REEF
Joëlle, a filmmaker, returns to her homeland with her husband to start a permaculture project. With the support of her herpetologist friend, she confronts her fear of snakes. However, she soon realizes that her true mission begins when she discovers that the neighboring lands are being devastated by pesticides.
Solace Women’s Aid
More than 800,000 children are survivors of domestic abuse each year. It is the most common reason for children’s social work referrals. Through the eyes of children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, this short film shows the challenges of growing up too quickly in unsafe homes. It follows their journey to Solace refuges and access to therapeutic support, highlighting how these safe spaces give them the chance to heal, play, and rebuild their lives. By focusing on survivor testimony, the film illuminates both the harsh reality of abuse and the transformative power of accessible care and protection.
To the outside world, working in agriculture and other rural industries, and countryside living, can appear idyllic, quaint and a privileged way of life. And whilst this is true on one level, on another lies the tough day-to-day reality and troubling mental health and suicide statistics.
Our film:
When someone loses their life to suicide, life stands still. Our film, which features local farming friends and family, plays out in reverse to emotionally connect viewers with the cause before delivering a message of hope. To maximise the film’s impact and engagement, there’s purposefully no voiceover. Instead, you have a very personal narrative in your head, with the music and sound design enhancing the visuals to further engage our target audiences. These include farmers and their support networks, agricultural service businesses and Further Education establishments, plus allies outside the industry.
Willow
Christmas should be a time of joy and for families to be together but last Christmas was the darkest time of our lives. My name’s Angela and I live on the Isle of Man with my husband Tim and our daughters Grace and Katie. Watch the video of our story and see how Willow gave us the best time of our lives. Thanks to supporters like you, we had a night that will stay with us forever. That’s the power of a Willow Special Day. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting Willow. Your generosity means the world to us and our family.
Heal rewilding
Raise money, buy land, rewild it.
Rewilding Britain
As part of World Rewilding Day we’re celebrating the collective effort of communities, groups and individuals across Britain and beyond, working together to restore our planet’s rich biodiversity. Rewilding is a team effort and this year’s theme is all about #RewildingTogether.
When we come together, we can achieve incredible things. From small grassroots projects to large-scale nature restoration initiatives, each of us plays a crucial role in rewilding our landscapes, restoring habitats and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
Woodland Trust
Precious, beautiful, full of life and refuge for wildlife: Rainforests are here in the UK. Isolated pockets of temperate rainforest covers parts of Scotland, North West England, Wales and the South West. Discover the temperate rainforest’s past, present and our hopes for its future.
Portsmouth City of Sanctuary
There are women suffering gender violence in Portsmouth, facing exploitation but who are ‘unseen’. Portsmouth City of Sanctuary worked with a local film company to produce this film to increase awareness of these women.
Link to change
Content Warning: Child Sexual Exploitation
Voices of the Exploited tells the stories of survivors of child sexual exploitation. From the targeting and grooming stage to manipulation and exploitation, the story shows how quickly a perpetrator can trap a child in exploitation. This film reveals the deceptive tactics of perpetrators, who often convince a child they are in a kind and loving relationship in order to exploit their emotional investment. It shows how support systems are shut down and victims are manipulated into thinking they are at fault.
The video follows a girl, surrounded by stories of the exploited, getting increasingly stressed, with the pace of the video intensifying as stories of exploitation worsen. The girl runs, trying to escape, until she finds hope at Link to Change and gets the help she so desperately needs.
Our film intends to teach our community about the devastating realities of child sexual exploitation that is happening on our doorstep. through this education, we hope that signs can be recognised sooner.
As a small charity, there was no budget for the creation of this video. Storyboards were scribbles in notebooks, scripts were read by friends via voice notes, and video was filmed with a plucky camera and the streets outside our office.
This film is raw, authentic, and true to the experiences of the young people Link to Change supports.
Our film closes with a direct quote from a child Link to Change has saved from exploitation: “I know people who need your help.”
Media Trust
A journey of creativity, courage, and self-discovery — showing that every dream begins with making that first jump.
A young aspiring game designer struggles with choosing a path forward. They face the overwhelming possibilities of life, guided by Blueprint for All, they take a leap of faith toward opportunity.
Through hard work, setbacks, and growth, their confidence builds. The once hesitant dreamer becomes a successful designer, now inspiring others to take their own first step.
KLITSCHKO FOUNDATION
Helping children to keep living, dreaming, fighting.
CATS
Cats like Alfie will never know why they’ve been abandoned, they only know cold, fear, and that they’re far from home. This year alone, we’ve seen the number of cats being abandoned increase by over 30%. Your support will help provide the food, warmth and expert care they need, until we find them a loving new home.
The Migraine Trust
Migraine hurts in many ways. From physical pain to the emotional pain that often comes with living with the condition, and the pain of encountering the misconceptions across society about migraine.
Winston’s Wish
Over 120 children are bereaved of a parent in the UK every single day. Last year we supported over 80,000 children and young people after the death of someone important to them.
King’s College London
For nearly 200 years, we’ve harnessed the power of our minds to accelerate progress, unearth discoveries and pioneer innovation.
Youth Cancer trust
Youth Cancer Trust provides FREE therapeutic wellbeing holidays and online support for young people (over 18 and diagnosed before the age of 30) living with and beyond cancer from the UK and Ireland.
Afrika Tikkun
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Criminal Justice Alliance
Headway East London
Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity
Leicestershire Cares
London’s Air Ambulance Charity
Manta Trust
North East Speak Their Name
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
RSPCA (England and Wales)
The Shark Trust
Simon on the streets
The Music Man Project
Trim Tots CIC
Why me
The Music Man Project