Tomorrow, a Muslim charitable organization will train aspiring filmmakers at a local school.
In a bid to make a career in film more accessible and diverse, the Young Imaginators programme, a Muslim-led film initiative, has successfully piloted in Cardiff, Wales. The project, which received funding from the Welsh government, Islamic Relief, Watch Africa, Into Film Cymru, and Screen Alliance Wales, aims to expand to more schools, including high schools, in the city.
The Young Imaginators programme, run by the charity UK Muslim Film, focuses on giving children hands-on experience in filmmaking while addressing media bias and improving representation of Muslims on screen. The project, which ran as a one-day pilot at 12 primary schools in Cardiff from September 2024 to February 2025, was divided into two parts: morning sessions focused on media literacy and spotting stereotypes, while afternoon sessions provided hands-on experience with filmmaking.
The programme has received very positive feedback from schools and aims to expand across the UK. However, this expansion depends on securing additional funding. Alan Thomas-Williams, a member of Cardiff council's curriculum team, coordinated the project in the city's schools and expressed eagerness to see it expand.
The Young Imaginators programme is designed to help children understand stereotypes in media and provide them with the tools to create their own content. Imam-Rashid, a representative from UK Muslim Film, estimates that at least £15,000 would be needed to run another 12 workshops of the Young Imaginators programme.
Hannah Abdule, a participant in the Young Imaginators programme, expressed concern about the lack of spaces for Muslim women in the arts. Mumina Khatun, UK Muslim Film's programme and partnerships manager, believes that a workshop like Young Imaginators would have benefited her during her school years.
UK Muslim Film is currently applying for grants from charities and government organisations to fund the expansion of the Young Imaginators programme. To learn more or get updates on the expansion and funding efforts, you can visit the UK Muslim Film website, monitor announcements from Welsh government cultural or educational funding bodies, follow partner organisations like Islamic Relief, Into Film Cymru, and Screen Alliance Wales for news about collaborations or grants, or look for news coverage from outlets reporting on UK Muslim Film's activities or media literacy education in Wales and the UK.
References: [1] Young Imaginators Programme, UK Muslim Film, [2] Young Imaginators programme aims to expand, BBC News, 1st July 2025,
The Young Imaginators programme, powered by UK Muslim Film, is not only focused on making filmmaking accessible but also emphasizes education and self-development, equipping children with media literacy skills and inspiring them to challenge negative stereotypes. To fund the expansion of this impactful programme across the UK and provide more resources for diverse voices in the arts, UK Muslim Film is actively seeking funding from charities and government organizations.
