Inspiring Change Through Film. Winners of the 2025 Smiley Charity Film Awards are Celebrated
By Jill Dando News
The 8th annual Smiley Charity Film Awards, dubbed the “Oscars of the charity world,” wrapped up in spectacular style last night at the Indigo O2, celebrating the power of film to inspire change.
A host of celebrity guests from the world of film, fashion, TV, music and entertainment including Una Healy, Jeff Brazier, Patsy Kensit, Patrick Grant, Julien MacDonald, Anton Ferdinand, Ekin Su, Scarlette Douglas, Sophie Hermann, AJ & Curtis Pritchard, Tamzin Outhwaite, Patsy Palmer, Bridgerton’s Kathryn Drysdale and British actor Adam Pearson, graced the red carpet and took to the stage to present awards, as the event honoured the most impactful cause-based storytelling of the year.
Hosted by television and radio presenter Lisa Snowdon, the evening recognised outstanding cause-based films across multiple categories from UK and international charities , with winners chosen by both an expert judging panel and public vote.
Jeff Brazier hosted the red-carpet, chatting with stars and representatives from the charity sector about their incredible work and achievements.
Grand Prix Winners
The night’s top honours went to:
- Film of the Year: Refuge – a powerful and moving film starring Billie Piper, shining a light on domestic abuse and the vital work of the charity.
- People’s Choice: The Hedgehog Preservation Society – capturing hearts with its advocacy for one of Britain’s most beloved but endangered species, narrated by Chris Packham.
A Night to Remember
The Smiley Charity Film Awards continues to set the gold standard for cause-based filmmaking, showcasing the transformative power of storytelling. With a record-breaking 520 entries and over 53 million additional views generated by the campaign, the impact of this year’s awards is undeniable.
Speaking about the event, Nicolas Loufrani, CEO of Smiley Movement, commented, “Film has a unique ability to touch hearts and inspire action, and tonight’s winners have proven just how powerful storytelling can be in raising awareness and driving change. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners for their incredible work.”
The evening was not only a celebration of filmmaking excellence but also a testament to the dedication of charities working tirelessly to make a difference.
As the ceremony drew to a close, guests reflected on the moving and thought-provoking films that shone a light on vital causes from mental health support to wildlife conservation.
Category Winners
The awards also celebrated winners across multiple turnover brackets and special categories, with the People’s Choice Awards decided by thousands of public votes.
- Under £100,000: The Rural Communities Mental Health Foundation
- People’s Choice: Billy & Beyond
- £100,000-£250,000: Transform Justice
- People’s Choice: The Sandcastle Trust
- £250,000-£500,000: Transform Drug Policy Foundation
- People’s Choice: Shropshire Cat Rescue
- £500,000-£1million: Orangutan Foundation
- People’s Choice: The Gurkha Museum Trust
- £1-£2.5million: Autistica
- People’s Choice: The Elizabeth Foundation
- £2.5-£5million: Carers UK
- People’s Choice: Kinship
- £5-£15million: Friends of the Earth
- People’s Choice: Breakthrough T1D
- £15-£50million: Scope
- People’s Choice: Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys
- Over £50million: Alzheimer’s Society
- People’s Choice: Cats Protection
Longform and Special Categories
- Longform Under £500,000: Younger People With Dementia
- People’s Choice: Timothy Syndrome Alliance
- Longform £500,000-£5million: Race Council Cymru
- People’s Choice: Soil Association
- Longform Over £5million: The Woodland Trust
- People’s Choice: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance
- The Bicester Collection International Impact Award: Pebbles Project
- People’s Choice: Four Paws
- Corporate Cause Award: Purina UK&I
Relive the Magic
All winning films can be viewed at www.smileycharityfilmawards.com, where supporters can also donate to the charities that inspire them.
