Maya Linsky sees herself living in black-and-white in a world of colour.
"In film, black-and-white is the step before colour," she says. "It almost feels like I've been held back in certain regards. It's a step below and a feeling of isolation."
Maya Linsky, whose short film Not In Nature deals with living with Asperger’s syndrome.
Linsky, an articulate year 10 student from Queensland, has always felt different to other children but it was not until a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome that she understood why.
And now, at 15, her frustration with the cliches surrounding the condition have encouraged her to make a short film that shows how Hollywood misrepresents those on the autism spectrum.
She wanted to make it clear that they are lot more than just a "basket case" (as in The Breakfast Club), a so-called "manic pixie dream girl" (Scott Pilgrim vs The World and many other movies) or a number-crunching genius with a love for game shows (Rain Man).
"People shouldn't make judgments based on what they see in media," Linsky says. "I'm not a cliche. Don't treat me as though that's the only aspect of me that there is.
"A human being is something so much more complicated than just an idea on a screen."
Linsky's film on her Asperger's triumphed at the Focus On Ability Short Film Festival in Sydney last night, winning her a $25,000 car. It was a step towards her long-term goal of studying at the famous University of Southern California and becoming a filmmaker.
Linsky – a filmmaking pseudonym to preserve her privacy – started the film as a school project before her teachers encouraged her to enter the festival, which showcases the abilities of people with a disability.
"A lot of people have said 'oh you're very brave for doing that' but I really don't think so," she says. "It's not something I'm embarrassed to talk about, it's not something I'm afraid about.
"For me it's the equivalent of saying 'my hair is brown'. It's just talking about another aspect of me."
Maya Linsky in her film Not In Nature, which won her a $25,000 car at the Focus On Ability Short Film Festival.
Festival founder Martin Wren, the chief executive of the disability employment service Nova, describes Linsky's film as brilliant.
"For people on the spectrum, life is a confusing place," he says. "If you're picking up on the emotional cues of your environment, if people aren't understanding the way you process the world, it can be a real challenge.
"The struggles she must have faced in getting to where she is today are dealt with in good grace."
The festival has grown in a decade to have 297 entries – many by high school students – this year.
"The courage of the young filmmakers in tackling really difficult issues – mental health, suicide, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar, gender identity, sexuality – are inspiring," Wren says.
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