An emerging filmmaker from Edinburgh has been recognised by The National Lottery as a rising star within the industry.
Greta McMillan, 19, who uses an Eyegaze computer to communicate, directed the short film 'Change Direction' in 2022 and won the 'Changes for a Better World' category at the 2022 Into Film Awards.
The filmmaker and artist was celebrated during this year's BFI London Film Festival, at The National Lottery and BFl 'Walk of Stars' installation.
This installation at London's Southbank, the heart of the festival, celebrated some of the incredible talent behind brilliant films and rising stars of the UK film industry that have been supported by The National Lottery through the BFI, and McMillan was honoured to see her work and voice recognised with a star of her own.
"[The National Lottery] has given me the feeling that my voice is important," she said.
"It makes for a more inclusive film industry as filmmaking becomes open to anyone who wants to do it.
"I need a support team around me, and I hope that my example makes more people think they can become involved in filmmaking."
Through the device, the creative teen has the freedom to work alongside her team StudioGreta, to produce unique artwork to express her view of the world.
"Anything you can do with your finger on an iPad, I can do with my eyes," she said.
"My mum has made a set of specialist filmmaking pages that means I can give instructions to StudioGreta to do the things that I can’t do physically.
"I can also activate my camera and video camera on my Eyegaze for direct filming.
"I have specialist software and apps which allow me to compose and play music on any instrument I choose - this then becomes my film scores which I always do myself."
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.
McMillan's film 'Change Direction' focuses on the impact of the climate crisis on the surrounding world, using her own experiences of being a wheelchair user to educate others about green travel through storytelling.
"I feel passionately about the climate crisis and talk to whoever I can about it," she said.
"I noticed going to school that all the teachers drive, and all the kids walk, or wheel or cycle and I loved Greta Thunberg’s speech about how it’s everyone’s responsibility.
"I think I have a different perspective on my journey to school because of being a wheelchair user and I like to make people think about that too.”
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