ONE budding young filmmaker is now an award-winning documentarian after her short film about the myths surrounding diabetes won her an accolade at BAFTA House this weekend.

Phoebe Maddison won the award for best individual film in a national diabetes short film competition with her entry entitled What Do You Really Know?

The 11-year-old, who has Type-1 diabetes, filmed the three-minute project in July while she was a Year 6 pupil at St Catherine’s Primary School in Upper Stratton – asking friends and teachers at the school about what they knew of diabetes.

The film aimed to raise awareness and dispel myths surrounding the condition, as part of the Diabetes UK competition.

Phoebe, of Haywain Close, travelled with her family to the British Academy of Film and TV Awards in central London on Saturday for the awards evening.

The five-strong judging panel included Diabetes UK president Richard Lane OBE, and BAFTA award-winning director Michael B. Clifford.

As well as bringing dad Antony, mum Michelle and younger brother Harry to the event at the private members’ club in Piccadilly, Phoebe invited head teacher Andrew Henstridge on stage with her to receive the award.

Proud dad Antony Maddison said: “There doesn’t seem to be any limits to her talent. She enjoys everything – arts, media, writing, and making YouTube videos.

“The whole evening was absolutely amazing. The nominees were from all over, from Cardiff, Newcastle and Northern Ireland.

"We’re extremely pleased and proud of what she has done – it gives an insight to children at school to what type-1 diabetes is all about.

“We were thrilled to be invited to BAFTA House, and to win was just the icing on the cake. She even got a box of chocolates and a mention in school assembly.”

The Swindon schoolgirl received a film-clapper trophy, certificate, and a Go-Pro Hero camera at the event. Her award also saw St Catherine’s Primary receive a brand new Apple iMac computer and iPad Air.

Away from the bright lights and back studying at Isambard Community School, award-winner Phoebe is still thrilled with her win: “It was absolutely brilliant, one of the best things I think I’ve ever done in my life," she said.

“Being there was a pleasure in itself and the other films were amazing, and I got very emotional when I won.

“I saw my mum and dad crying, and I started to cry on stage – I was very embarrassed afterwards, but everyone told me it was ok."

Phoebe is not resting on her laurels however. She said: “I would love to have an Oscar one day, but I think I’m going to have fun making videos and experimenting first and see what happens.”

Thalie Martini, Diabetes UK Make the Grade delivery manager, said: “We would like to congratulate Phoebe on her award and thank all of the schools who took part in our competition. The quality and originality of all of the films have been extremely impressive and the judges had a very tough job choosing the winners.

“All of the students who participated in our competition should feel really proud as they have helped raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes, which is a very serious health condition that is often misunderstood. This will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of children and young people with Type 1 diabetes up and down the UK."

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Diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin (Type-2), or produces none at all (Type-1). Insulin allows the body to process glucose, or blood sugar.

Diabetes UK estimates there are around 3.8 million people with diabetes in the UK, around 590,000 of whom are undiagnosed.

Type-1 diabetes affects around 10% of all diabetes sufferers.

It is the most common type of childhood diabetes.

Type-1 sufferers do not produce any insulin, which can lead to serious organ damage if unmanaged.

The condition can’t be cured, so management involves constant blood-sugar monitoring, regular insulin injections, regular exercise and healthy diet.