An upcoming filmmaker from the Scottish Highlands has been honoured by The National Lottery as a rising star within the industry.

Parker Dawes, 16, won the Best Original Screenplay and Best Film prizes at Film G, the Gaelic film awards, for his animated film ‘Gàldhlig sa Chiste’, and has subsequently seen his work recognised on the banks of the River Thames.

That comes in celebration of this year's BFI London Film Festival, with The National Lottery teaming up with the BFl to create the 'Walk of Stars'.

This installation on London's South Bank, the heart of the festival, celebrated some of the incredible talent behind brilliant films and rising stars of the UK film industry supported by The National Lottery through the BFI.

Ealing Times:

Stirling-based Dawes made the trip down to London for the first time to observe the exhibit, and reflected proudly on his journey which began with making films at Ardnamurchan High school, in the Highlands.

“I grew up watching classic films and cartoons, I loved Tom and Jerry and Aardman,” said Dawes.

“I really liked creative stuff that I could see people had put a lot of appreciation into and I really wanted to put my love into something.

“The community we’re from was involved in a Gaelic film competition every year, so someone would come into school, make a film with you, and that was my first experience of making a film.

“That was incredible as it gave me the desire to make films every year and have people laugh at my films.

“I subsequently ended up winning a couple of awards at the Festival through a National Lottery-funded BFI animation course. 

“The course gave me the chance to meet some amazing people, including Jim Parkyn who worked on Aardman.

Ealing Times:

“It was such an honour and phenomenal experience to work with someone I’d grown up admiring.

“Winning two Film G awards was fantastic as it was always my dream to make a good film like that.”

A trip to South Bank reaffirmed Dawes’ desire to pursue a career in the creative industry while offering the whole family a chance to celebrate his talent.

“It’s such an honour to go to London,” he added. “I never thought I would be doing this. It’s an incredible new experience and a chance to meet some amazing people.

“I want to have a platform to be able to tell my own stories, as I love seeing people enjoying my work.

“I want to inspire people and tell my own stories in a funny, new way and for people to enjoy them the way I did growing up.”