A 20-YEAR-OLD student who made a film on his year transitioning has had his documentary shortlisted for a national prize.
Ben Hodge, from Rainhill, faced difficulty and bullying after coming out as trans.
However last year, as he started transitioning, he filmed his journey in a documentary called 1 year: A letter to my 14 year old self.
The film shows the highs and lows of Ben finding himself and thoughts throughout the process.
His film has now been shortlisted for the Best Documentary Category of the Into Film Awards sponsored by The National Lottery. The Into Film Awards will take place on March 18 at London’s ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, and will be hosted by David Walliams OBE.
Ben, a student at the University of Salford, said: “In St Helens its getting better but it’s not as open for LGBTQ people to be themselves there like it is in Manchester and Liverpool.
Ben Hodge is a student at the University of Salford
“I struggled when I was younger with bullying and coming to terms with who I am, so when I was going through this I decided to film my journey as a message to my younger self that things do get better.
“It documents my journey as a trans man and my first year of having testosterone, which was a big thing for me because when I was young I didn’t think I’d get to 16.
“So this documentary is celebrating me becoming who I’m supposed to be, from a bullied teenager to what I do now.
“The documentary has already been shown at a festival in Katmandu so I’m really proud of that already, but for it to be shortlisted for this is just really exciting.
“For a trans man’s story from a North West town to be shortlisted for a national award is really exciting thing, my family are so proud and excited too.
“Loads of film premiers take place in Leicester Square, and now we are going to an awards there.
“I hope to do this, or stand up comedy, as a career one day so I just feel really grateful that my documentary on a year of my life has been so well received.”
- The awards are open to those aged 5 to 19 to celebrate young filmmakers.
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