'I Am Me' is May's Film of the Month

We're delighted to announce that our Film of the Month winner for May 2017 is the powerful and very personal I Am Me, by Tallulah, an 18-year-old filmmaker from Paston Sixth Form College in Norfolk.

Engaging for those aged 14+, I Am Me is a creative, sensitively-shot and poetic film that delicately and powerfully explores issues surrounding mental health, and shines a light on the all-consuming nature of eating disorders.

We caught up with Tallulah to find out more about her and about her winning film.

I'm 18 and have just finished studying at Paston Sixth Form College. I've been wanting to make this film for a while - ever since I wrote the poem. I thought that with Mental Health Awareness Week in May, it was a good time to make it. But in terms of what inspired me, it was my time in hospital last summer, I suppose. Seeing so many people suffer from such mental illnesses made me want to spread awareness and challenge stigmas.

I think film is an incredibly powerful tool to connect with audiences, especially when it comes to issues such as mental health. This is why I wanted use my creative skills and insight into mental health to make something honest, emotional and powerful.

I've been making films since I was 15, although I've always been into creative things. In fact, I first started editing when I was about 10 - believe it or not, making videos of my favourite pop band at the time, Girls Aloud! Although my love for film in particular came from the media teacher I had for GCSE, and that's what inspired me to make my own films and continue studying media.

Personally, I love independent cinema and unusual films. My favourite director is Spike Jonze - I love his film Her and Being John Malkovich. I really love Amelie too - I have watched that countless times!

I'm a big fan of Into Film and the films they share, so it made sense to enter my own. It feels great to have won! I'm very happy.

My advice to those wanting to start making films is just go for it! Don't be afraid of things not turning out how you want - the only way you'll learn is by making mistakes and that's how your work will improve, believe me! You don't need expensive equipment either - anything that records video/audio and some imagination is all you need.

Tallulah'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 she has also secured a £100 Amazon voucher plus an Into Film goodie bag with which to help further develop their future films. If you've been inspired by May's winner, find out more about how you can enter our ongoing Film of the Month competition.

If you liked I Am Me, why not try these related films:

• My Skinny Sister (2015, 15, 93mins) Engaging for 16+ 
  The close relationship between two sisters is strained, and loyalties tested, when the younger learns of the elder's eating disorder in this compelling Swedish drama. The director also produced a short film on the same subject, Eating Lunch, which can be ordered and watched on the Encounters Short Film Festival: Fresh Flix Shoot From the Hip DVD.

• Black Swan (2010, 15, 103mins) Engaging for 16+
  This female-fronted psychological thriller from Darren Aronofsky explores fractured psyches and how a dark side can overwhelm an individual's inherently good nature.

• Amy (2015, 15, 128mins) Engaging for 14+
  Asif Kapadia's documentary paints a portrait of the success, and troubled life, of talented singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, using archive footage to tell her life story and struggle with fame, addiction and eating disorders.

• When Marnie Was There (2014, U, 103mins) Engaging for 7+

  Studio Ghibli's swan-song beautifully captures the uncertain nature of adolescence, examining mental health issues such as anxiety, in this tender and affectionate anime.