Autistic teenager dreams of big screen career

Edward Ryan is a 14-year-old teenager from Sanquhar, a town in the south of Scotland. He has red, curly hair and glasses, and he is autistic. Edward has always loved making things, especially with Lego when he was younger. He enjoyed building Lego people and scenes, and soon he wanted to make them move. This led him to start creating stop-motion animations, where he would take many photos of his Lego creations, moving them a little each time to make it look like they were alive in a movie. As he got older, Edward improved his skills and started using better equipment. His school gave him a laptop for his studies, but he also used it to make his films.

Recently, Edward won the audience award at the Into Film awards in London. This is a big event that celebrates young filmmakers from across the UK. The audience award is special because it is chosen by people who watch the films and vote for their favorite. Edward received his prize from actor Andy Serkis and presenter Edith Bowman. He said he was overwhelmed by the support he received from his community and was still in shock that he had won. His film, 'More Than One Way To Go Home,' tells the story of a young autistic girl who has to find her own way home after her brother leaves her. Edward wanted to show what it can be like for someone with autism, and how they can face challenges but still find their way.

Edward's family is very proud of him. His mother, Jess, said that he was also nominated for the best story category, which was a new award this year. Even though he did not win that prize, she said it was an honor just to be chosen, especially since he was competing against older filmmakers. Jess said that being autistic has made some things harder for Edward, but filmmaking has given him a way to express himself. She believes he can go far in the film industry and hopes he will achieve his dream of becoming a director of photography. Edward is determined to keep working hard, go to college and university, and one day see his films on the big screen. His story is an inspiration to others, showing that with passion, hard work, and support, you can overcome challenges and follow your dreams.