Brighton pupil, 16, wins best documentary at national film award
A Brighton pupil has won a national film award for her documentary on her family's emigration from Tehran, following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, to the UK.Rosie won the Best Documentary category in the 2025 Into Film Awards, a charity that celebrates young people's creativity.The 16-year-old said her documentary, Freedom of the Sea, was a "personal project" as it explored challenges her family encountered when adapting to a culturally, socially and linguistically different country. "This award means a lot to me because it was my the first film and it's great to be recognised by Into Film. I'm grateful to have had this opportunity," she said.
'Freedom of the sea'
"While I was making the film, I learnt in more detail about the joys, as well as challenges, my family left behind in Iran."Rosie said the documentary featured her family's journey to a country where they could enjoy freedom while still cherishing the memories of the home they once held dear."Growing up I don't think I had ever truly appreciated what my family had been through," she said.Rosie added the documentary had a strong focus on the sea."My family being able to swim in the sea together is a perfect encapsulation of the freedom they found in the UK," she explained."This film highlights the rights and liberties we take for granted, and how something as simple as swimming in the sea at my local beach is a huge privilege."
The awards ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, included celebrity presenters such as Hugh Grant, Olivia Cooke, Andy Serkis, James Norton, Geri Halliwell-Horner and Archie Madekwe. Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis said she was "honoured" to be the host of the 2025 Into Film Awards."I am so impressed with the creativity and brilliance of all the young people involved," she said."The standard of the nominated films is extraordinarily high and just shows how important it is to give young people a voice through filmmaking."Fiona Evans, chief executive of Into Film, added: "These awards are a celebration of young people's talent. "The UK film industry values, nurtures and believes in the voices of the next generation."
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