Protect Us film wins prestigious Smiley Award for international impact
The Protect Us short film has won a gold Smiley Charity Film Award in the 'international impact' category. The film explores how AI is being used to sexually abuse and exploit children online — drawing on real cases involving sextortion, nudification apps, and chatbots — and calls on governments, technology companies, and civil society to work together to create safer digital spaces for children.
Since its launch, Protect Us has been translated into multiple languages and screened for politicians, policymakers, and tech leaders around the world. Baroness Joanna Shields OBE, WeProtect Founder and the film's executive producer, said: "The scale of AI-enabled child abuse is staggering — and too few people know it. This award belongs to the children it was made to protect."
The film was created for WeProtect Global Alliance, which brings together more than 300 members — including national governments, global tech companies, and law enforcement agencies — to end the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
The film was produced by media production company SHFT - Director Charlie Coopersmith, Producers Tom Dixon and Alex Horrox.
The Smiley Charity Film Awards is the world's largest platform for films with purpose, celebrating creativity, compassion and positive change.
Watch the Protect Us film: https://youtube.com
Read the Smiley Awards media release: Smiley Charity Film Awards 2026: Full Winners List
