Mdhamiri á Nkemi, 28, a filmmaker from Medway, Kent has been recognised by The National Lottery as a rising star within the film industry. Nkemi grew up outside the world of film but quickly discovered that he had a passion for storytelling and joined the BFI Film Academy in 2013.
The filmmaker and editor is now being celebrated at this year's BFI London Film Festival, with The National Lottery teaming up with the BFl to create the 'Walk of Stars'.
This installation, which was on London's South Bank, the heart of the festival, celebrates some of the incredible talent behind brilliant films and young talent of the UK film industry.
"It was such a huge surprise and I felt very honoured to be recognised in this way," he said.
"To have your work and career validated in this way is incredible.
"I grew up totally outside of the film industry. I come from a working-class family with no connections to film whatsoever, but I always enjoyed stories.
"I then discovered filmmaking, but it wasn't until I found the BFI Film Academy that I got that entry into the world back in 2013."
Since his time at the BFI Film Academy, the filmmaker, who cites Steve McQueen as one of his biggest influences, has cemented himself as a world-class film editor.
Nkemi saw his first major project 'The Last Tree' win two BIFA awards as well as receiving a BAFTA nomination, something he did not deem possible without the support of The National Lottery's funding.
"My whole career can be brought back to that film academy," he said.
"They allowed me to learn how to be an editor in the industry and to make connections.
"I worked on my first feature called 'The Last Tree' and that was funded by the BFI and The National Lottery which was such an amazing experience as I stood into the shoes of an editor on a feature film for the first ever time.
"Starting from a place where I knew no one, I have had so many incredible opportunities through the BFI Film Academy, just being part of the alumni, which has allowed me to expand my network.
"I'm drawn to films that feel unique and are told by voices who have not had the chance to tell their story before in the mainstream way.
"I love those unique and diverse stories that come from distinct voices."
Nkemi has played a hand in several of those nominations himself in his career as an editor before bravely making the leap to Los Angeles last year.
From the BFI Film Academy to the glittering lights of Hollywood, Nkemi is now grateful for his new adventure as he develops new skills and continues to tell the stories he loves.
"I'm working on an animated feature film at the moment," he said.
"It's really exciting because it's my first time working within animation and it's allowing me to flex a different muscle and try something new.
"In general, I just want to keep working on these bigger projects on a larger scale and tell these diverse and unique stories on a bigger stage."
National Lottery players raise around £30 million every week for good causes across the UK and the contribution to the UK film industry is funded through the BFl, making more than 600 films in the past 26 years, which have won an astonishing 504 awards including 16 Oscars, 124 BAFTAs and 33 Cannes awards, from more than 1,868 nominations.
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