FILM students - fresh from a feature production starring former Grange Hill star Todd Carty - are set to host their first-ever festival for the silver screen.

Young amateurs from Accrington and Rossendale College are already dab hands behind the lens, as they helped to produce action adventure Treasure of Albion, starring ex-Eastenders mainstay Carty.

Also featuring Red Dwarf's Norman Lovett and TV comic Phil Cool, the production has already received a prestigious BAFTA screening.

Now their college will be home to yet more artistic endeavours as the debut East Lancashire Film Festival takes shape in early May.

Launched in partnership with the British Youth Film Academy, it follows a similar model which has been trialled at several north-west locations.

Lined up for the festival is a special showing of Treasure of Albion, which had a production budget of £112,000.

Another higlight will see Andy Wild, who has been involved in post-production work on a range of Hollywood blockbusters, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong and Eyes Wide Shut European horror movies director Johannes Roberts will speak about his work before giving films fans a sneak preview of his latest film, When Evil Calls.

Animation is the central theme for the festival and organisers will be on the lookout for the next Nick Park.

Stephen Murphy, film festival director, said: "Short-listed animations will be screened online and the winners will be shown before the gala screening of Treasure of Albion."

Tickets for the festival, which will be staged at the college's Rawtenstall site in Haslingden Road, can be obtained by calling the institution on 01254 354404.