A 10-year-old schoolgirl impressed a film director so much that she cast her in the lead role of her latest movie.

Margot Dean was selected by filmmaker Iria Pizania to star in her new short film Tutu and Pointes after she was observed at her ballet and drama classes and stood out as possessing “the rare combination of creativity and discipline”.

The 10-year-old, who attends Brighton College Prep School, went on to make the film at the Royal Academy in London. It tells the story of a young, talented dancer whose single mother cannot afford lessons. Her mother works as a cleaner in a theatre and at night the girl watches the professional dancers practise but, of course, her own talents are discovered in the end.

Margot’s mother Sigrid Dean said: “Margot was so hard working on set and the director felt that she nailed every single scene. She absolutely loved the experience and really took direction well. I think she has been bitten by the bug now.

“Margot worked with the professional choreographer Adrian Look and he said that he had spent days working out the choreography for a certain piece and after 15 minutes of being shown it Margot had learnt it. Her expressive dance, as he describes it, is just what the film makers wanted.”

Director Iria added: “Taking directions while improvising requires creativity and discipline at the same time - which is a rare combination that Margot possesses.

“Margot was on point every time and would push through tiredness and give her best self as soon as she took her position in front of the camera.”

The film does not have a release date yet but the production team hope to show it at the Toronto International Film festival, Sundance in Utah and the SXSW festival in Texas.

To help the filmmakers raise funds to complete the film and to learn more about it visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/tutu-pointes-post-production-film#/backers