East of England on a roll after being voted most charitable UK region and now banking 10 shortlistings in the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2024

The East of England was recently found to be the UK’s most charitable region, with 37%1 of residents supporting charities by donation or volunteering at least once a month.

Proving this even further, 10 incredible films from charities based in the East of England have been shortlisted for the Smiley Charity Film Awards 2024.

This includes; Cambridge community charity, Abbey People CIO’s, ‘What does community mean to you?’, Hertfordshire volunteer emergency ambulance service, Hatzola Herts’, ‘Together Saving Lives’, Essex and Norfolk Redwing Horse Sanctuary’s, ‘She Learned All Their Secrets: The Story of Anna Sewell and Black Beauty’, Brentwoood Hopefield Animal Sanctuary’s, ‘Leona Lewis at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary’, Norwich Printing Museum’s, ‘The Legacy of Peter Jarrold’ and RCCE Rural Communites Council of Essex’s, ‘United in Kind- Hug in a Shrug’.

So now, on Valentine’s Day, the Smiley Charity Film Awards urges East England locals to support their local charities and show some love by casting their votes for the film that touches their heart the most.

In total, 202 films have been shortlisted across thirteen categories following over 500 entries in total ahead of the awards on 20th March 2024, the United Nations International Day of Happiness, at The Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London.

Film has a vital and powerful role to play in creative positive action. Over a third (35%) of Brits are more likely to support a charitable cause after watching a film that highlights their work2 and of those who watched charity films in the past year, an encouraging 62% went on to support those charities in some way, whether it be through monetary donations, fundraising or volunteering3.

With categories for both short form and long form films ranging from a budget of under £100,000 all the way up to £50 million plus, all charities were invited to enter as part of the world’s biggest campaign to promote cause based films. Following this second round of public voting which closes on 12th March 2024, the final winners will be judged by a panel of industry professionals from the world of film, media, entertainment and the third sector and announced by celebrity presenters on the evening of the awards.

Last year’s winners included: Welsh Refugee Council, Brooke (action for working horses and donkeys), World Connection inc, ASDA and so many more incredible charities.