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The Saltways Charity Film Festival is a one-day celebration of the very best in nonprofit storytelling. We believe that how charities tell their stories matters — that films made with dignity, genuine partnership, and creative ambition do more good in the world than those that do not.
This festival exists to find those films, celebrate the people who made them, and bring our sector together to learn from each other, connect with people who share the same values, and be genuinely inspired.
This isn’t a stiff conference with lanyards and lukewarm coffee. It’s a celebration of the filmmakers, communicators, and people with lived experience who are telling stories that genuinely change things. There will be energy, connection and authenticity running through every moment of the day.
Thursday 24th September, 2026
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA
09:00 to 17:00, with live music and drinks to close
The Saltways
Our categories are designed to celebrate the full breadth of what great charity filmmaking looks like — not just the big-budget productions, but the bold, the resourceful, the co-created, and the quietly extraordinary.
Each award is judged by a diverse panel including sector professionals, film graduates, journalists and people with lived experience.
Films must have been completed and made publicly available between 1 January 2025 and 30 June 2026.
Celebrating films that demonstrate tangible, real-world change — whether that's shifted perceptions, increased donations, influenced policy, or moved people to act.
For organisations with an income of under £1 million, proving that you don't need a big budget to tell a big story. This category celebrates creativity, resourcefulness and heart.
Open to bold approaches — whether that's format, technique, storytelling structure, use of technology, or something else entirely. If it pushed boundaries, we want to see it.
Celebrating films created by people using the tools they have — phones, tablets, their own voices. Raw, real and entirely their own.
For films made as part of a specific fundraising or awareness campaign, judged on how effectively the film drove the campaign forward and connected with its audience.
Recognising films made in genuine partnership with the people at the heart of the story, where those with lived experience had real agency in shaping the narrative, not just appearing in it.
An individual award for an emerging talent, whether they work in charity communications or filmmaking. Someone whose work shows real promise and deserves to be celebrated.
Celebrating outstanding animation that brings stories to life through creativity, craft, and imagination - whether through traditional techniques, cutting-edge technology, or bold visual storytelling.
Entries open
Submit your film across any of our seven categories.
Entries close
Shortlist announced
Winners announced
Our panel brings together people from across the creative industries and the charity sector. Further judges will be announced shortly.
Flo is a film marketing and events specialist with 10 years experience across the screen industries, higher education and non-profits. She’s led bold campaigns at SOAS University of London, One World Media and most recently growing audiences for British indie cinema. Flo’s also worked on set across short + feature films, bringing real insight into filmmaking. She is now Head of Campaigns at Reclaim the Frame.
With a background in social media strategy and human rights communication, Eleshea helps global non-profits connect with younger audiences and build authentic online communities that inspire action.
She’s a Charity Comms trustee, mentor and advocate for making the social impact sector more accessible to early-career professionals.
He has over 20 years' experience in fundraising, including roles in supporter care, major gifts, corporate partnerships, and learning and development.
While at the NSPCC he wrote and delivered the award-winning ‘Explaining the Strategy Through Story’ programme, which was rolled out to over 2,000 members of staff. He was also Head of New Partnerships in the Corporate Partnerships Team, his team won over £30 million in partnerships and saw 300% growth.
Recently graduating from both the London Screen Academy and a Directing & Cinematography Course in Pinewood Studios, I’m kickstarting my filmmaking career doing a combination of commercial and unscripted projects. I’m a strong believer that there’s no single unimportant role in the industry and so I spend my time bouncing around as many departments as possible.
Jensen’s journey into legacy fundraising started back in 2004 at Dogs Trust as a Legacy Marketing Officer. From day one, it wasn’t just a job for him—it became a passion.
Helping people create lasting change through their legacies felt deeply meaningful to him, and that feeling has never left him.
Since then, he’s had the privilege of leading legacy fundraising teams for some incredible charities which have included Dogs Trust, Christian Aid, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to name but a few.
Tahera Mayat is known for hosting #CharityHour from 2014 to 2024. With a passion for communications, she enjoyed facilitating #CharityHour – a weekly themed Twitter/X chat that provided connections and learning. Tahera is recognised for championing the work of those doing good. She has presented at charity and communications events: CommsHero; I Wish I’d Thought of That; Pizza for Losers; Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Fundraising Conference; Charity Meetup; and Leeds Charity Social. Her successes include nominated for Charity Times International Women’s Day 2023 and having #CharityHour named one of the 20 charity accounts to follow by Charity Times in 2022.
Ayesha Farah is a storyteller, filmmaker, and Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager at Comic Relief. She has led charity films broadcasted on the BBC, played a leading role in the documentary Who Runs This Place?, and led on the production of impactful films on malaria and mental health. A specialist in authentic community storytelling, Ayesha champions locally-led narratives that drive systemic change in development. With an MSc in Public Policy and extensive experience across global education, climate justice, and maternal health campaigns, she was named Strategic Communications Leader of the Year 2025 at the Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Awards.
Jo is the Artistic Director at Hear Me Out. For the last 25 years her career has always centered around the arts and media. From theatre acting to international marketing, radio presenter for the BBC, UKCCA Carnival participation manager to Senior Producer working to enhance and expand the artistic lives of young people in Luton. Jo has always been passionate about working with local and marginalised communities as this is the world that she grew up in and feels that now it’s time to give back. Jo is also a trustee for the Philharmonia Orchestra, championing their drive to welcome more diverse audiences and players.
Before that, he was the co-creator and head writer of The Stand Up Sketch Show for ITV2. He’s also the producer of the BAFTA nominated sitcom short, Zoners.
Seven award categories celebrating the very best in co-created, impactful, and innovative charity filmmaking, with shortlisted films screened throughout the day.
Hands-on sessions, inspiring speakers, and practical skills to take back to your organisation, whether you are a seasoned filmmaker or just finding your voice.
Live music throughout the day, art sessions running alongside workshops, great food and drink, and time to connect with people who care about the same things you do.
The awards ceremony is livestreamed free to the wider sector, so the learning and celebration reaches as far beyond the room as possible.
The festival is made possible by organisations who believe, as we do, that how charities tell stories matters. We are grateful to our current sponsors and still have sponsorship opportunities available.
Yoyo is a B Corp brand and digital agency dedicated to helping purpose-driven brands and charities thrive.
They deliver meaningful digital experiences through bespoke strategies, brand identities, and high-impact websites that unlock potential and promote positive change.
By combining their expertise with your mission, they reshape brands to deliver even greater value for good.
Tickets go on sale in June 2026. With just 130 places available, demand is expected to be high. Join the mailing list to be the first to know when they are released.
Tickets available
Per ticket
On sale
Entering the Charity Film Festival is completely free. There are no submission fees, no membership requirements, and no hidden costs.
No. The festival is open to all non-profit organisations, including CICs, social enterprises, and other mission-led groups. If your organisation exists to create positive social impact rather than profit, you are welcome to enter.
Yes, you are welcome to submit multiple entries. Each film will be considered independently.
Yes. If your film fits more than one category, you can submit it across multiple categories and it will be judged on its merits in each.
All entries are assessed by our panel of expert judges drawn from across the film, media, and charity sectors. There is no public voting system — every film is reviewed and scored by the judges, ensuring a fair and consistent process for all entrants.
Tickets to the festival are limited, so we operate a waitlist. Every organisation with a film selected as a finalist is guaranteed at least one free ticket, so if you make the shortlist, you will be there.
Yes. All finalist films will be screened at the festival on the day, so if your film is shortlisted, it will be shown to the audience at Rich Mix in Bethnal Green on 24 September 2026.
Yes. The Charity Film Festival is open to organisations from anywhere in the world. Whether you are based in the UK or internationally, as long as your organisation is non-profit in purpose, you are welcome to submit.
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