The second annual Film Enterprise Competition, delivered by Film Barking & Dagenham in partnership with LBBD’s Education Partnerships ‘Inspiring Futures’ Programme and generously supported by MBS Group, has concluded with a spectacular celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling.
This year saw a significant expansion, with 20 schools participating and over 30 film submissions inspired by the theme “Metamorphosis.”
From these, eight finalists (four primary and four secondary schools) were shortlisted and invited to pitch their ideas in a Dragon’s Den-style event at Make It Barking, judged by a panel of five industry professionals.
The winning schools, Beam Primary School and Dagenham Park Secondary School were awarded a full production experience, including pre-production workshops, three days of filming with professional crews, and for the first time, access to a real filming location in Dagenham for secondary students.
Councillor Elizabeth Kangethe, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment & School Improvement said:
“This competition is a shining example of how creativity, education, and industry can come together to inspire our young people. The talent and passion on display this year has been phenomenal. We’re proud to support initiatives like this that give our students real-world experience and a platform to shine.”
The winning films, “One Moment” by Beam Primary and “Inter Demon” by Dagenham Park Secondary, were screened at a special showcase event in Romford, celebrating not only the winners but all participants and the wider creative initiatives across the borough.