A 17-year-old aspiring filmmaker is set to walk the red carpet at the prestigious Into Film Awards.
Rosie Merat-Brandwood, from Varndean College, Brighton, is among three recipients for the 'Ones to Watch' award.
The Into Film charity celebrates young people's creativity in film, showcasing and highlighting the wealth of tomorrow's creative talent.
Rosie has demonstrated a strong authorial voice and an ability to handle complex themes with sensitivity and clarity through her filmmaking.
Her short film The Freedom of the Sea has been internationally recognised, winning in various award categories.
The documentary comes with personal implications for Rosie as it showcases the story of her family, who, having emigrated to the UK during the 1970s Iranian revolution, reflected on the tough decisions they made in leaving their homeland.
The Freedom of the Sea won Best Short Film at the Media Magazine Awards, Best Short Film at the YOUKI International Youth Media Awards, as well as Best Documentary at the 2025 Into Film Awards.
Following the success of The Freedom of the Sea, Rosie embarked on more film projects.
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Her work, Peaches, was selected at multiple film festivals, including UTC Aldridge Film Festival, Cinecity (New Voices) and Northampton Film Festival, marking Rosie's steady rise as an emerging filmmaker with genuine momentum.
Having acquired such sustained recognition at youth and professional-facing festivals, Rosie hopes to evolve into a professional filmmaker, focussing on real-world issues through meaningful storytelling.
The glitzy Into Film Awards ceremony is often a star-studded event, attended by big industry names such as Hugh Grant, Daniel Craig and Eddie Redmayne, amongst others.
Sponsored by the UK film industry, the Awards highlight the talents of the next generation of filmmakers.
This year, the Awards received hundreds of entries across the UK, with various stories and topics, including light-hearted comedies, more thought-provoking films and documentaries.
Other nominee topics and stories include being a Ukrainian refugee, staying safe online, youth mental health, tips for supporting young people with special educational needs, Muslim identity and socio-economic observations.
The charity, Into Film, is supported by the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding.
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