Regional awards celebrate talented film-makers

9:00am Thursday 10th April 2008

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VIEWFINDER Film Festival presents its Gala Awards Night next week (Thursday, April 10), from 7.30pm-9.30pm - screenings of short-listed local films with awards presentation afterwards. The event takes place at Cineworld in Cheltenham.

This is the fourth year of the festival, which celebrates short films made by talented film-makers from Gloucestershire and the wider South West region.

Many short films are made each year in the region but few of them are seen by a wider audience - the aim of the festival is to provide such an opportunity, bringing an exciting selection of work onto the big screen.

Earlier this year, festival organisers invited budding filmmakers across the South West to submit short films. With almost 200 submissions, festival organisers spent an entire day screening them all; and are delighted to announce that this year's festival is the strongest yet. Films included in this year's programme include entries from primary and secondary schools, community groups, students and both amateur and professional filmmakers.

Tico Romao, festival director from the University of Gloucestershire, said: "We're pleased with the increase in submissions this year and the high quality of films.

"Viewfinder gives us the opportunity to showcase the vast talent of screenwriters, film makers and creative artists we have here in the county; and indeed this year we have pulled in submissions from the whole of the South West region to enthuse and inspire."

The screenings are free and open to all. Seats are offered on a first-come first-served basis.