An exceptional group of young people from Eden Girls Leadership Academy Manchester (EGLAM) have been announced as winners at the prestigious Into Film Awards, which honours the best young filmmakers and use of film in education across the UK. Presenter and comedian Ben Shires, and Tik Tok star and teacher Miss Mustafa were on hand to present the ‘Into Film Club of the Year’ award to the group, for their success in championing diversity and female empowerment.

The red-carpet event in ODEON Luxe Leicester Square was organized by education charity Into Film, who engage with over half of UK schools. Hosted by comedian and broadcaster, Sue Perkins, other celebrity presenters included Lashana Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Jack Lowden, Tom Ellis, Stacey Dooley, Michael Ajao, Anson Boon, Aliyah Odoffin, Celyn Jones, Emma Appleton, Sebastian Croft, Sheyi Cole, Thaddea Graham, Marli Siu, Lola Petticrew, and Samuel Adewunmi.

The film club began in 2017 when the school first opened, with the aim of bringing together students from all year groups. It mostly screens films where their students can 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. Hidden Figures for example follows a group of Black women who take on traditionally male roles, and it opened the members’ eyes to the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). Meanwhile, Miss Marvel has been the first time any of them have 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! 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, educators and young review writers as well as a host of remarkable films submitted across six filmmaking categories. This year’s other winners include some truly inspiring stories, from a young disabled filmmaker based in Edinburgh who created her entire film using an eye gaze communicator to a filmmaker from Coventry who explored her personal experiences with OCD and anxiety.

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.

Watching all the winning films and find out more about the event – https://www.intofilm.org/news-and-views/articles/into-film-awards-2022-winners