Those Who Went Away reaches regional finals at the Arc Cinema

Pupils from Great Yarmouth Charter Academy lit up the big screen this week as their original short film, Those Who Went Away, was named a regional finalist and showcased at the Arc Cinema before an audience drawn from five local schools.

What began as a classroom idea grew into an authentic, moving portrait of community, identity and belonging, crafted by Year 11 pupils and shaped by their lived experience. The screening was followed by a lively Q&A that brought younger and older learners together in conversation about the film making project, courage and culture.

Primary pupils led with curiosity asking what it’s really like “behind the scenes” on a film set and how the editing process works while A Level Film Studies students from East Norfolk Sixth Form probed deeper. They asked whether it was harder to communicate a story rooted in real home lives rather than fiction and what it meant to be “raw” about identity, beliefs, faiths and culture on screen.

“We wanted to tell a story that feels true to our town,” said Iuri, the film’s pupil director. “It’s not always easy to be vulnerable about who you are, but that honesty helped us find the heart of the film. Once we trusted our own voices, the images and moments followed.”

A standout thread in both the film and the discussion was how everyday rituals—especially food and shared tables can bridge differences.

“In the edit suite we kept coming back to meals—pots on the hob, hands passing plates, voices overlapping,” explained Fade, who supported the edit. “Food and culture bring people together here. In Great Yarmouth you hear dozens of languages, but around a table the story becomes one about family, neighbours, and building a future together.”

The event also highlighted the power of industry partnership in unlocking our young people's creativity. Into Film was credited for organising the regional finals and screening platform, while Paul Press, CEO of The Offshoot Foundation, worked closely with the Year 11 team to mentor the production from first cut to cinema-ready.

“This was real learning in real time,” said Mr Powell involved in the project. “Our pupils collaborated, revised, solved problems and held themselves to a professional standard. Seeing their work on the big screen and hearing thoughtful questions from peers across the town—was a proud moment for everyone.”

Thanks and credits go to

• Organised by: Into Film
• Industry partner: The Offshoot Foundation — with special thanks to Paul Press (CEO) for hands-on support from workshop to premiere
• Host venue: Arc Cinema, Great Yarmouth