Every month, Sparks Film School awards a new Film of the Month award to a production made by students.
Every month, our panel of judges assess films from across all Sparks Film School crews and select one standout entry as their Film of the Month.
April 2026:
Congratulations to the crews behind Devil Till Dawn from film students at Sparks Film School Dulwich
For the April 2026 Film Of The Month, the winners this time are the Studio 4 and 5 filmmakers from Sparks Film School Dulwich, who collaborated to produce their spine-tingling film Devil Till Dawn.
Congratulations to the crew behind the film, a lot of creativity and collaboration clearly went into the film and it really shows.
About Devil Till Dawn
Devil Till Dawn follows two teachers and their troublesome students who are trapped in a school built on cultist catacombs. After a normal day takes a dark twist, they realise they must stop the rise of the Devil before it’s too late.
This film was created during the spring term this year, where filmmakers were inspired by the theme Raising The Stakes. The crews have been learning and experimenting with techniques that heighten drama, create tension, and build suspense on screen. Their learning clearly shows in this film, with our judges impressed from start to finish.
Take a look at what our judging panel had to say below.
From the Judges…
The film opens with a strikingly confident introduction of hooded figures performing a dark ritual, immediately drawing the audience into a strange and intriguing world. Within moments, a strong sense of atmosphere is established, leaving viewers with questions and a desire to understand more.
This is an excellent example of how a well-crafted opening can hook an audience right away, setting the tone for everything that follows and creating a sense of anticipation from the very first frame. There is some really great work here from the crew.
The build-up to the first murder is handled with impressive control and pacing. What begins as an ordinary, believable day in detention is brought to life through naturalistic performances and thoughtful camerawork, grounding the story in realism.
This makes the sudden shift all the more effective, when the scream breaks the calm, the change in camera angles and the use of close-ups heighten the tension dramatically.
The addition of practical effects and makeup of evil marks on the students hands enhances the impact, while the point-of-view shots as the students run and hide pull the audience directly into the chaos. The POV sequence here is carefully choreographed, successfully raising the stakes and upping the drama.
The finale delivers a memorable and creative climax, particularly through its inventive use of point-of-view (POV) shots. By placing the audience in the perspective of the ‘devil’ as the teachers fight back, the scene becomes immersive and intense, giving a real sense of being inside the action.
This choice not only amplifies the tension but also reinforces the high-stakes nature of the confrontation. Our panel also loved the unexpected closing visual of the red sky! It’s really effective, leaving a lasting impression and providing a dramatic, atmospheric end to the film.
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in this film! From the strong opening to the tense, action-packed finale, it’s clear how much creativity, effort, and teamwork went into every scene. The film is engaging, atmospheric, and full of thoughtful choices that really pay off on screen.
Congratulations to the young filmmakers from Sparks Film School Dulwich for being awarded this month’s Film of The Month!
About Sparks Film School’s Film of the Month Award
The Sparks Film of the Month Award shines a spotlight on a new film each month from the imaginative filmmaking talents of Sparks Film School students.
Each month, a film production made by Sparks Film School crew members is chosen as Film of the Month.
Our panel of judges – assembled from our team of filmmaking instructors – look at submissions from across Sparks Film Schools nationally and choose one film that they think stands out as an impressive piece of filmmaking.
They assess based on each film’s impact on screen and explore all its little details to uncover all the things we love about each film chosen.
About Sparks Film School’s Filmmaking Courses
Sparks Film School offers filmmaking, animation and photography workshops for ages 5-18, including term time classes and holiday camps.
We offer free taster classes and there are lots of opportunities to get involved. You can find out more about our filmmaking courses here >>>
