Hope Dickson Leach has been named the inaugural recipient of the IWC Filmmaker Bursary Award, presented in association with the BFI, ScreenDaily reports. According to the BFI, the £50,000 award (about $65,000 USD) is “the most significant bursary of its kind in the UK film.” The Bursary Award is designed to recognize and support a British writer and/or director towards the beginning of their career, offering them financial freedom to pursue future projects.

“The Levelling,” Dickson Leach’s feature debut, made its World Premiere at TIFF in September. The drama centers on a young woman (Ellie Kendrick, “Game of Thrones”) who finds herself back at the family farm following the suicide of her younger brother, a tragedy that her emotionally distant, hot-tempered father insists on identifying as an accident. “The Levelling” is screening in competition at the BFI London Film Festival.

Dickson Leach’s short film “The Dawn Circus” was screened at festivals around the world including Sundance, Edinburgh, and London. She co-founded Raising Films, which works towards making the film industry more parent-friendly.

Oscar winner Cate Blanchett presented the award to the emerging writer-director at an event October 4, the night before the 60th BFI London Film Festival kicked off. LFF runs from October 5 to 16.

“Winning this means everything — my life has just changed in two minutes,” commented Dickson Leach. “Being a mother of two children and a filmmaker is really tricky and I’ve now been given the gift of time.” She was selected from a short-list that included “Prevenge” writer, director, and star Alice Lowe.

“I don’t think there is one thing that can be done to increase the numbers of women directors, but every single one of the things that people say need to be done should be adopted,” Dickson Leach told Women and Hollywood during TIFF. “It’s going to be gradual. Given my own experience, I’d like to see more older women being embraced in the industry, and more conversations around what parent filmmakers need in place to make their work.”