Scots teen filmmaker wins top award at star-studded ceremony
Edward Ryan, 14, from, has been praised for his powerful short film More Than One Way To Go Homeat the Into Film Awards.
A talented young filmmaker from Scotland has captured hearts across the UK with his own story to win a top prize at an annual star-studded film awards ceremony at Leicester Square.
Edward Ryan, 14, from Sanquhar, in Dumfries and Galloway, took home the coveted Audience Award—voted for by the public and sponsored by Universal Pictures International—for his powerful short film More Than One Way To Go Home at the Into Film Awards.
Edward's deeply personal film follows a young autistic girl who must navigate her way home alone after her brother leaves her behind—an emotional and thought-provoking story inspired by Edward's own experiences. Autistic himself, Edward drew on a distressing real-life incident in which he was bullied by an adult while filming in his community, forcing him to find a new and unfamiliar way home.
The film which was written, directed, acted, editied and produced by Edward alone, was also nominated for Best Story, sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios.
Speaking after the awards on Tuesday, Edward said: 'I put a lot of hard work and effort into this film but none of it would have been possible without the help of my friends and all the support from my parents and family.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
"Especially from my mum for entering me into this amazing competition. I would also like to thank the whole of my community in Sanquhar for their unwavering encouragement. I feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to have this opportunity and to receive this award.'
The film has been praised for its emotional depth, sensitive storytelling, and powerful message about understanding and supporting autistic individuals.
The award was presented by actor Andy Serkis and broadcaster Edith Bowman during Monday's glittering ceremony celebrating the best in young UK filmmaking.
Edward first discovered a passion for filmmaking during lockdown. What began as stop-motion animations using Lego soon developed into short live-action films featuring friends and family. With a growing interest in cameras and editing software, Edward quickly became a skilled filmmaker and storyteller.
His YouTube channel, Mr Porridge —named after his love of the breakfast dish—is run by his parents and showcases a wide range of content, from short films and reels to reviews and documentaries. His earlier work includes Forward to the Past, which premiered at a local community centre, and a documentary for arts hub A' the Airts, created when he was just 12. That project earned him the title of Young Community Champion at the Dumfries and Galloway Life Awards.
Fiona Evans, CEO of Into Film, praised Edward and his fellow nominees, saying: 'These Awards are both a celebration of their talent and a clear statement of intent: that the UK film industry values, nurtures and believes in the voices of the next generation.'
The Into Film Awards, sponsored by the UK film industry and supported by the BFI awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding, celebrate young people's creativity in film, showcasing and highlighting the wealth of tomorrow's creative talent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
TV star lands huge new role after beloved Amazon Prime series is axed
Neighbours star Xavier Molyneux is set to lead a major new TV series – with an intriguing connection to the beloved Australian soap. The 27-year old actor is best known for playing Byron Stone in the axed serial drama, taking over the role from originator Joe Klocek when new episodes landed on Amazon Prime Video in September 2023. Metro understands that Xavier signed on the dotted line for the original two year commission, but filmed his final scenes in February. Fans were quick to pick up on his cast mates attending a farewell party. He will depart in the coming weeks – though the show will continue until December, after a last minute extension was awarded. Unfortunately, it seems that this really is the end of the road for Ramsay Street, having now been pulled from our screens for the third time in 40 years. A training ground for some of Australia's elite, Neighbours has projected the likes of Margot Robbie and Kylie Minogue to superstardom during that time. And now, former Big Brother contestant Xavier looks set to follow in their footsteps as he plays Viking warrior Erik Bloodaxe in upcoming drama Bloodaxe. Clearly the bosses at Prime Video have had their eye on him, as its produced by Amazon MGM Studios. The series will follow Erik and his wife, Gunnhild, during their fight for the throne of Norway. During their journey, they'll face rivals, 'shifting loyalties and bloody betrayals'. While it may sound like a fantasy series, Bloodaxe really was a 10th-century Norse king who also served as King of Northumbria on two occasions. A statement on social media said: 'Amazon MGM Studios casts Xavier Molyneux in the lead role of Erik Bloodaxe in the new original series Bloodaxe.' Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! During his time on Neighbours, Xavier's Byron has worked as an escort, having a fling with high profile Lassiters investor Reece Sinclair (Mischa Barton) and reunited with his estranged dad Vic (Craig Hall). More Trending The character is also the son of show legend Plain Jane Superbrain (Annie Jones). More recently, Byron grappled with the death of grandmother Amanda Harris (Briony Behets) and had an explosive fallout with his girlfriend Sadie Rodwell (Emerald Chan), who was left everything in Amanda's will. But how will he leave Erinsborough? View More » Neighbours streams – for free – Monday to Thursday, from 7am on Amazon Prime Video. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: Clarkson's Farm sparks shock upset after beating The Traitors for major award MORE: Amazon Prime fans rush to binge 'pure genius' crime drama that launched 11 years ago MORE: One of the 'greatest sci-fi series of all time' premiered 10 years ago today
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Ewan McGregor 'really let himself down' by swearing in front of celeb cook
McGregor made the comments as he and collaborator Charley Boorman appeared on the podcast Dish from Waitrose. Ewan McGregor has spoken about the time he embarrassed himself in front of Delia Smith – as he was so excited he kept swearing. The Scots actor made the comments as he and collaborator Charley Boorman appeared on the podcast Dish from Waitrose, hosted by award-winning chef Angela Hartnett and 6 Music star Nick Grimshaw. Describing meeting the celebrated cook at a Radio Times event, McGregor said: 'I was so excited to meet her, but I kept swearing. I didn't mean to, but I just kept dropping F-bombs all the time … I really let myself down.' But Grimshaw said of Smith, who was previously a majority shareholder at Norwich City: 'She won't mind. She's all right, she's down the football, she hears it all.' McGregor and Boorman, who have worked together for the past 20 years on their Long Way series of motorcycle adventures, discussed some of the delicacies they have eaten during their travels. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The two described how they were once invited for a meal in a ger, or yurt, by villagers in Mongolia. Boorman told the podcast: 'They said 'would you like some food?' And they had this big pot in the middle on the stove, and they lifted this, uh, this lid, and there were 200 testicles bubbling away with all their entrails. 'Yaks. You name it, it was all in there.' Boorman continued: 'I remember eating them, and Ewan is pretty good with eating, kind of, you know, difficult things, I took one bite and it kind of popped.' Asked by Hartnett if the villagers noticed, Boorman replied: 'Oh, they thought it was the funniest thing in the world.' McGregor and Boorman's latest adventure, titled Long Way Home, sees them travel from Star Wars star McGregor's home in Scotland to Boorman's in England, taking a detour via Scandinavia, the Arctic Circle and back through continental Europe aboard classic motorcycles.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Into film awards: Northern Irish pupils win big in London
"Superheroes" from a Belfast Special School have struck gold at the prestigious UK-wide Into Film awards in School, made by pupils from Park School in Belfast, won the Best Film in the aged 12-15 St. Colmcille's High School in Crossgar were named Filmmaking Champions at the Into Film awards were held at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square, just yards away from where Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise appeared at the premiere of F1 the movie on Monday. The awards promote film education in schools, and the award ceremonies attract hundreds of entries from across the UK every Grant, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Andy Serkis and Sharon Horgan were among the stars presenting at the ceremony, which was hosted by actress and former Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis. Park School's film, Superhero School, was filmed in the school on Belfast's Ravenhill Road and was written and filmed by staff and pupils, with help from Into Film experts Will McConnell and Michael school was transformed into a superhero school where every pupil had a unique power, and the film portrays the rivalry between two pupils called Speedy and Quicklight. 'Pretty unbelievable' The film featured 11 pupils in acting roles and teacher Jon McKinley as "Super Tea".Mr McKinley accompanied the pupils to the ceremony and told BBC News NI that it had been "a great experience for all the kids.""To think that we were just making a wee movie before Christmas and now they've just won an award, it's pretty unbelievable," he said the pupils had brainstormed the story and then received help from Mr McConnell and Mr MacBroom to film and produce it."All the practical parts were done by all the children and all the acting as well," he said. The Park School pupils were presented with their award by Sharon Horgan and also met Barbara Broccoli, the famous producer of the James Bond School's principal Bernie Davis, who also attended the awards, said she was "totally overjoyed for the children"."The children are just totally shocked, they're actually saying 'we can't believe this,'" she said."They've met so many stars today as well and they've actually been invited to Paramount studios."Meanwhile, St Colmcille's High School in Crossgar has had previous success at the Into Film 2024 their comedy film Cereal Killers won the Audience Choice Award at the school also uses film in a range of subjects and teaches its pupils film work was rewarded with it being one of only three schools in the UK named as Filmmaking Champions. In a statement released by Into Film, St Colmcille's teacher Victoria Polly said they were "absolutely delighted" with the award."Our young people have faced a range of challenges in recent years," she said."We have witnessed an increased number of pupils seeking support for anxiety and mental health concerns, which are exacerbated by the current economic and social climate.""Against the backdrop of dwindling budgets and a cost-of-living crisis, our young people have experienced a significant reduction in the provisions and opportunities for challenging creative skills," she added."It is inspirational to watch our young people letting their imaginations sing and we are privileged to work with them."
