BBFC launches latest Create the Card Competition in new partnership with Lionsgate for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

• BBFC partners with Lionsgate to launch its latest Create the Card competition for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which will be released in UK cinemas on 20 November 2026.

• The BBFC's latest Create the Card competition invites young people aged 12 to 16 to design the official BBFC Black Card, which will be shown ahead of every UK cinema screening of the film.

• The competition encourages teenagers to think critically about the content they watch and to engage with the importance of age ratings as they move into more mature viewing. 

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) today announces the launch of its latest Create the Card competition in an exciting new partnership with Lionsgate. The competition’s latest iteration will see entrants aged 12-16 designing the BBFC Black Card for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The collaboration marks the first time the competition has partnered with the long-running franchise based on Suzanne Collins' much-loved novels. 

The nationwide competition calls on young people to put their own stamp on the world of Panem and design the official BBFC Black Card. One talented young artist’s work will go from  their own design canvas to the big screen, with the winning design appearing on the card that displays the film’s age rating and content advice ahead of every UK screening. 

Starring Joseph Zada, Jesse Plemons, Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Mckenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak and Kelvin Harrison Jr, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping picks up 24 years before the events of the original film on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Young fans are asked to focus their design based on the latest trailer, drawing inspiration from the fictional world featuring Haymitch (Joseph Zada), Maysilee (McKenna Grace) and Lenore Dove (Whitney Peak). 

Directed by Francis Lawrence and produced by Nina Jacobson, the film follows a young Haymitch Abernathy as his life in District 12 is upended by the reaping, exploring themes of resilience and loyalty against the backdrop of Panem.

The Create the Card competition has run since 2019, inviting young people across the UK to capture the spirit of a film's story through the design of the official BBFC Black Card. This year, entrants aged 12 to 16 are asked to reflect the tone and atmosphere of Panem in their own style, reflecting a world of stark contrasts, tension, and resilience.

Judges are looking for bold, high-contrast designs that fill the page, as these translate best on the big screen. Any medium can be used, from paint to felt tip, with entries judged on creativity, originality, and how thoughtfully they capture the tone and world of the film.

To mark the launch, producer Nina Jacobson and director Francis Lawrence feature in an official video, inviting entrants to show what Sunrise on the Reaping means to them and to 'make them remember you.' 

Alongside seeing their artwork on the big screen, the winner will receive an unforgettable Winner's Day experience, including an exclusive screening of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. They will also receive a BBFC goody bag and film merchandise. The deadline to enter is 23:59 on Sunday 18 October. Find out more information on how to enter at bbfc.co.uk/createthecard.

President of the British Board of Film Classification, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, said: “The Hunger Games has always challenged young audiences to think critically about the world around them, and Sunrise on the Reaping is no exception. 

“This new partnership with Lionsgate gives us a wonderful opportunity to bring the spirit of critical thinking to life through Create the Card. We can't wait to see how young people across the UK interpret the film’s central themes of resilience and community and bring the world of Panem to life through their art.”

Marie-Claire Benson, EVP, Head of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate UK said: “Before every film, audiences are welcomed by the BBFC Black Card – an iconic part of the cinema experience. We’re delighted to partner with the BBFC to invite 12–16-year-olds to design this memorable opening screen, celebrating the striking beauty and unwavering resilience that define the world of Panem.”