Online safety for teens is never leaves the news cycle. Young people are targeted by online abusers, sexual predators…and the voices in their own heads, often made loud by algorithms. UK indie, House of Oddities, and child protection charity, NCPCC, turn these pressures into monsters to show how online harm intrude in everyday lives. The campaign, Shift Ctrl, calls for greater action to protect children in online and launches as the UK Government’s consultation on online safety enters its final stages. It is targeted at parents, showing that what children are being exposed to online cannot be ignored.
New data from Childline, the NSPCC-run service, reveals that between April 2025 and March 2026 Childline delivered 2,444 counselling sessions about online child sexual abuse and exploitation, a 36% annual increase, and online harms have increased by 30% compared to the year before.
The hero film was produced by Partizan, directed by Ethan & Tom with DOP, Nick Morris, blending traditional 35mm film craft and post‐production precision by Framestore. Ethan & Tom pushed to capture as much as possible ‘in-camera’ – from special neon builds casting real light across the set, to large‐scale wind effects and practical environmental detail. Sound plays a key role. The film opens with a track by PinkPantheress before transitioning into an original analogue‐led score by Johnny Jewel (Chromatics). The film is deliberately emotional, underlining the need for immediate action to protect children better.
The UK campaign is running from May 15-31, with the 60-second hero film in cinemas and a 30-second cut‐down running across on‐demand TV services in the UK including Sky, All 4 and ITVX, plus social media platforms Meta, TikTok and YouTube.
Credits:
Client: NSPCC
Client Team: Kevin Yeates, Sue Nashl, Max Hartley, Beth Wilson, Gemma Warne, Verity Burton, Katharine Venters, Emily Kalkan, Courtney Zitola
Creative Agency: House of Oddities
Chief Executive Officer: Sachini Imbuldeniya
Account Director: Darren Smith
Creative Leads: Megan Revell & Laura Davies
Head of Creative Operations: Lou Gordon
Project Manager: Vanessa Hyde
Production Company: Partizan London
Directors: Ethan & Tom
Managing Director: Jenny Beckett
Head of Production: Ella More O’Ferrall
Executive Producer: Levi Rijper
Producer: Charlie Scannell
Production Manager: Will Cousins
Post Production & VFX: Framestore
VFX Supervisor: Ben Gallagher
Head Of 2D: Suzanne Jandu
Producer: Sara Beckman
Grade: Company 3 London
Colourist: Simon Bourne
Colour Producer: Kerri Aungle
Editing: Final Cut London
Editor: Kit Wells
Producer: Nikki Porter
Music & Sound: No.8
Sound Designer: Ben Gulvin
Executive Producer: Ollie Ireland
Associate Producer: Karen Noden
Composer: Johnny Jewel
Music: Leland
Music Supervisors: Gareth Belsey & Dhamirah Coombes
