Films about asylum seeker support and animal welfare are among the winners at this year’s Charity Film Awards, which took place as a hybrid event this week.

The winner of the top prize of charity film of the year was Wales is a Nation of Sanctuary by the Welsh Refugee Council, highlighting the challenges asylum seekers face, around its lobbying around the Nationality and Borders Bill, which has been criticised by human rights charities.

The charity’s film showcases asylum seekers in their day-to-day life in the UK, then shows the same scene with them no longer there, to highlight the legislation’s impact on those seeking asylum.



The award scheme is now in its sixth year and involves judging by an expert panel as well as people’s choice films of the year, voted for by the public. The awards scheme’s partner is non-profit platform Smiley Movement.

Animal welfare charities success

This year’s people’s choice film of the year was a film by animal welfare charity Brooke called unbreakable bonds highlighting global work taking place to protect horses.

There were a raft of other categories ranging from international impact, corporate cause and for charities of different sizes. Many of these also included an award from the scheme’s judging panel as well as awards voted for by the public.

Another people’s choice winner was SPANA (the Society of the Protection of Animals Abroad) for its film International Working Animal Day 2022, to highlight the role of working animals in people’s lives and the help they need. This is the second year running it has won an award and its latest award was in the £5m to £20m charity section.



“SPANA is honoured to have our work recognised at the Charity Film Awards 2023,” said the charity’s director of global fundraising, marketing and communications David Bassom.

“We are hugely grateful to everyone who voted for our film – it is due to the incredible support from the public that SPANA has received a People’s Choice Award for the second year running.

‘The Charity Film Awards are helping us to raise invaluable awareness about the enormous challenges facing working animals across the world and the real difference SPANA makes to their lives. We rely entirely on the kindness of our supporters, who make it possible for SPANA to be there for working animals in desperate need.

“By putting the spotlight on the plight of working animals, we hope this will grow support for SPANA’s vital work and enable us to improve the lives of many more animals.’

Youth issues highlighted

The £1m to £2m sized charity section was won by Young Westminster Foundation for its film the Hand That Helps. This film was made as part of the Media Trust’s volunteer film project and supported by grantmaker John Lyon’s Charity. It shows a young man considering the challenges and dangers he faces in his own local area and how the Foundation’s youth workers are there to help young people.

UK Sepsis Trust’s film Raising Awareness in the Farming Community won the public vote in this category.



Small charities

The winner of the best film by a small charity, in the below £100,000 income category, is We Care Campaign, for its The Ones Who Care campaign. This uses images of carers with a powerful poem about the work they do to support family members.



Runners up in this category were MindFood CIO for its film Bud, which won the silver award and Book Clubs in Schools won bronze for its film Books are not just about reading.

According to the organisers: “The awards categories are based on the Charity Commission’s turnover brackets for income in the last financial year. This creates a level playing field so smaller organisations are just as likely to receive an award as the larger, more established ones.”

The full list of winners can be seen here.

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