Announcing the Winners of our My Local Culture competition

From November to January, young filmmakers from across the capital picked up their cameras, phones and tablets and braved the London weather to tell a story about why their part of the city was special to them as part of our My Local Culture competition, in partnership with the Mayor of London. 

Taking on the near-impossible task of narrowing down the incredible entries to two winners was a judging panel comprised of representatives from Into Film, our Youth Advisory Council, the BFI (British Film Institute), Film London and the Greater London Authority.

We're delighted that we can now share with you the winners and runners-up...

Huge congratulations to Bell Gardens Animation Club, who have won the 12 and Under category with their film Leyton Square Park, and to young filmmaker Adam Grant from St. Marylebone School, whose film The Heart of The City has won the 13 and Over category. You can watch both winning entries (and the two runners-up) further down this page.

The winners joined the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on stage at the first ever London Borough of Culture Awards to collect their prizes, which included £1,500 of filmmaking equipment and industry mentoring to help them further develop their filmmaking skills.

"Winning the London Borough of Culture competition has been such an amazing experience." said winning filmmaker Adam. "Into Film are a great organisation providing chances like this for young people. I'm excited about all the opportunities that are ahead of me." Hannan Majid, leader of Bell Gardens Animation Club, was equally excited about the experience: "I just want to say thank you to the Into Film team for making yesterday such an amazing day for the young people."

Themes celebrated in the films ranged from street art, music, architecture, community, family, and diversity, right through to the spaces that allowed young people to be free and play. We'd like to offer a special shout-out to our two runners-up: Ben Jonson Primary School for their film Tower Hamlets Where Diversity Is Our Culturein the 12 and under category; and filmmaker Dhillon Kaur for her film titled Lewisham in the 13 and Over category.

Massive congratulations to all the winners and runners-up and we would like to thank all of the young people who participated in the competition.

Winner in the 12 and Under category:

Leyton Square Park by Bell Gardens Animation Club

Winner in the 13 and Over category:

The Heart of The City by Adam Grant from St. Marylebone School

Runner-up in the 12 and Under category:

Tower Hamlets Where Diversity Is Our Culture, made by Ben Jonson Primary School.

Runner-up in the 13 and Over category:

Lewisham, made by Dhillon Kaur