'Apnoea' is our latest Film of the Month Winner

We are very excited to announce that our latest Film of the Month winner is Apnoea, a fantastic short made by teenager Aaron from Manchester. Watch the film above.

Apnoea (suitable for ages 11+), is an instructive representation of sleep apnoea and its symptoms, weaving a dreamlike atmosphere with its haunting music and gentle narration that eventually turns suffocating.

We got in touch with Aaron to find out more about his film.

Congratulations on winning Film of the Month! How long have you been making films, and how did you start?

I've been making films for about 4 years now, and it all started when I went to college to do a media course. I wanted to be able to make films that will entertain people, and this lead to a passion for filmmaking and cinematography in particular.

Tell us why you wanted to make a film about apnoea?

I made the film Apnoea to make people aware of the condition, as 1.5 million people in the UK suffer with sleep apnoea, and yet up to 85% are undiagnosed.

I got the inspiration to make this film by talking to people who suffer from the condition, finding out how they cope and the stresses they go through. When I was writing the poem I tried to describe the feeling in the best way I could. I wanted the film to have a dream-like atmosphere, so when I got my friend to do the voice over, I got her to speak in a very soft tone.

What was the most challenging aspect of making this film?

The most challenging aspect of this film was the way in which wanted to show the symptoms of sleep apnoea. I wanted to show the lack of breathing by filming underwater scenes, meaning I needed to film with a GoPro for some of the shots.

If you had the opportunity to make Apnoea again, what would you do differently, and why?

If I had the opportunity to make Apnoea again, I think I would go more in depth about how the apnoea repeats itself, as I don't think I got the message across in the short run-time of this film.

What are some of your favourite films or filmmakers? Did they influence Apnoea in any way?

I would say that Roger Deakins (Skyfall, Blade Runner 2049) is my favourite cinematographer, and I try to take as much inspiration as possible from him, as his work just simply amazes me.

What tips would you give to a young person who's about to make their first short film?

The three tips I would give young filmmakers are:

• Stay motivated. As long as you have a passion for filmmaking, you'll love every second of it.

• Make friends. If you have other friends who are into filmmaking, then you can learn from each other.

• And finally, my last tip would be to always back up your files! So many times I've seen people lose their footage because of errors or silly mistakes.

Aaron's film will now be showcased to over 300,000 film club members online and all of our Film of the Month films are now on the Into Film YouTube channel, and he has also secured a £100 Amazon voucher to help further develop his future films. Think you could win Film of the Month? Find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.

If you've been inspired by Apnoea then make sure you check out these related films:

• Inside Out (2015, U, 102mins) Engaging for ages 7+
  Animated adventure about the five dominant emotions inside an 11 year-old girl's head, as she struggles to come to terms with moving home.

• The City of Lost Children (1995, 15, 108mins) Engaging for ages 14+
  Dreamy, surreal fantasy, following a mute strongman's attempts to rescue the city's children from an evil scientist intent on stealing their dreams.

• Into Film Youth Made Shorts - Wellbeing (Secondary) (2015) Engaging for ages 11+
  A selection of short films made by young people from all over the UK on the theme of wellbeing.

• Lorenzo's Oil (1992, 12, 129mins) Engaging for ages 11+
  The inspiring true story of two parents who refused to give up when doctors tell them their son has a terminal nerve disease.