Dinah Naitamu, from Canning Town, has been selected as one of three “ones to watch” at the Into Film Awards, which celebrates young people who are set to be the future of the UK screen industry.
The annual ceremony for the UK’s leading showcase for young filmmaking talent will take place on June 24 at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square.
Hosted by actor, presenter and author, Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE, it will also be attended by the UK film industry, film stars and celebrities.
The awards ceremony has previously been attended by some of the biggest stars in the industry including Daniel Craig, Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne.
Dinah is a director, writer, and actor who is attending the London Screen Academy.
Her biggest goal is to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups, both in front of and behind the camera, and tell stories often excluded from the mainstream.
Dinah said: “As a young person in film and TV, it is an honour to be recognised for my achievements in the field so far.
“I strive to create so much in the industry, whether I’m in front of the camera, directing, writing or producing – so receiving this award and career progression support means I’ll get to share so much more with the world.
“Opportunities in the industry can often be elusive, and breaking in can feel impossible to many.
“I hope to write nuanced roles for underrepresented groups in my projects, play a wide range of characters you don’t usually see black girls play, and when I’m more experienced, create grants and opportunities for those who may have difficulty breaking into the industry.”
The awards, sponsored by the UK film industry, celebrates young people’s creativity in film.
Ayling-Ellis said: “I am really honoured to be the 2025 Into Film Awards host and I am so impressed with the creativity and brilliance of all the young people involved.
“The standard of the nominated films is extraordinarily high and just shows how important it is to give young people a voice through filmmaking.”
