An exceptional group of girls from Manchester are set to walk the red carpet having been nominated for Into Film Club of the Year at the 2022 Into Film Awards. The group from Eden Girls Leadership Academy in Manchester will attend a star-studded ceremony at ODEON Luxe Leicester Square on 28 June, hosted by Sue Perkins and featuring celebrity presenters such as Eddie Redmayne, Morfyyd Clark, Lashana Lynch, Thaddea Graham, Ben Shires, Tom Ellis, Joanne Froggart and Samuel Adewunmi. The Awards celebrate the best young filmmakers and use of film in education across the UK and are hosted by film education charity Into Film.

The film club began in 2017 as soon as the school opened, with the aim of bringing together students from all year groups. It focuses on screening films that allow students to see themselves on screen and celebrate powerful female role models, both within the film and behind the camera. As the members are from diverse backgrounds, there is a particular focus on allowing female members of colour to see themselves on screen. Recent examples include Hidden Figures which saw Black women take on traditionally male roles and, in the process, opened the members’ eyes to the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). This is together with The Breadwinner and even Miss Marvel, which was the first time they had a seen a female Muslim superhero. The club is a safe space for students to come, meet friends, access wellbeing strategies and use film as a strategy to discuss the world around them.

The group said, “We are in shock but absolutely thrilled at our nomination! Our Into Film Club is important to us as it allows us to see ourselves represented on screen and we hope it encourages others to engage with more diverse films or even to start up their own film club!”

The Into Film Awards honours incredible Into Film Clubs, inspiring educators and talented young review writers as well as a host of remarkable films submitted across six filmmaking categories. This year’s films cover a wide range of themes and topics including the impact of lockdown on mental health, the intersection of race and beauty standards in the UK, Ukrainian cultural identity, climate change and environmental protection, managing OCD, anti-bullying, the importance of kindness and the anniversary of integrated education being introduced in Northern Ireland.

The Into Film Awards are made possible with support from the film industry through sponsorship and supported by the BFI using National Lottery funding, thanks to National Lottery players and the UK film industry through Cinema First. The National Lottery raises £36 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Previous celebrity presenters at the event include Lily James, Daniel Craig, Amma Asante, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton, David Walliams, Will Poulter, Tom Davis, Malachi Kirby, Bill Nighy, Gwendoline Christie, to name a few.

Lily James said, “Joining a group of like-minded young people creating their own stories and then knowing that they will be seen and appreciated is the real deal, and it gives them the impetus to keep making films and nurture that talent”.

Find out more about the Into Film Awards nominees and watch all the nominated films: https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/into-film-awards-2022-nominees