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Since the first draw in 1994, The National Lottery has raised over £49bn to bring positive change to communities across the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. Thanks to the players of The National Lottery, good causes have been awarded over 690,000 individual grants to strengthen local communities, power sports teams, support environmental projects, unleash creative talent, empower the elderly and unlock young people's potential.
To mark The National Lottery's 30th birthday, they're launching a campaign celebrating the game-changing impact that they have collectively delivered, to help inspire the next generation of good causes and players.
As Into Film is one of the organisations awarded National Lottery good cause funding (through the BFI), this week we're highlighting five of our own inspiring young game-changers, whose remarkable achievements would not have been possible without the work that National Lottery funding allows us to do.
Ben Hodge
In 2020, Ben Hodge won Best Documentary at the Into Film Awards with 1 Year, a powerful and very personal film. The documentary follows Ben's journey through his first year of taking testosterone, as he transitioned to become a transgender man. Now 23, Ben has graduated in Media & Performance at the University of Salford.
"When I was at school, I was bullied and used to self-harm", explained Ben. "I didn't think I'd make it to 18. But I did, and I'm so proud of everything I've achieved. My film is really a letter to my 14-year-old self - I wanted to tell that person, 'You will be happy and thrive'."
1 Year has since been shown around the globe, from a UNICEF talk about youth filmmaking and creating empathy in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the Geelong Pride Film Festival in Australia, and an LGBT+ History Month exhibition at the University of Salford. 1 Year also won our Film of the Month competition back in September 2019.
Encourage conversations about what being LGBTQ+ means, as well as what self-expression and understanding looks like, and it will really create a more inclusive community within your school.
Into Film Award-winner Ben Hodge
In 2022, Ben began working on two documentaries centred around LGBTQ+ experiences, and since winning an Into Film Award has gone on to lead workshops around using his lived experiences in media to encourage more positive representation.
"Showing young people LGBTQ+ films and media in the classroom is only going to create a more positive and open environment for self-exploration and self-expression", remarked Ben on why his films continue to focus on these issues. "In school, if my teachers had access to and utilised the resources and films that are on offer, I probably would've had better mental health, greater understanding of myself, and I wouldn't have had to hide myself around peers who don't understand what it is to be LGBTQ+. Encourage conversations about what that means as well as what self-expression and understanding looks like - it will really create a more inclusive community within your school."
Ben has also been working on a film about his hometown of St Helens and how the closing of the mining industry affected their town and culture, and aims to screen the final product in a community cinema.
"My advice to other young filmmakers is just to get out there and find what you're passionate about. Even if something doesn't work, you'll learn and get better. Be proactive and good things will come."
1 Year by Ben Hodge
We're proud that, as a direct result of the BFI, awarding National Lottery good cause funding (as well as other key funders), Into Film have been able to support Ben on his filmmaking journey, from his initial entry into Film of the Month, to winning an Into Film Award, and beyond.
Thank you to the BFI, everyone who plays the National Lottery, and to the National Lottery themselves, for their continued support, allowing Into Film to discover, support and develop game changers like Ben.
