MOVIE makers and lovers of the big screen have gathered in Bolton this evening for the final night of cinema celebrations.

The Bolton Film Festival is rounding off its first year with a red carpet event in the town centre.

The Light Cinema has played host to the two day festival which kicked off yesterday.

Organised by Bradshaw’s Adrian Barber, it has been showcasing the best independent short films from around the world.

Movies, from animation to documentaries, were submitted for the inaugural event from film makers both in Bolton and around the world.

After two packed days of screenings and industry talks, tonight will reveal the first year winners.

A panel of judges ­– which has included former artistic director of the Octagon and University of Bolton professor David Thacker, television writer Chris Lunt, and movie actor George Newton – have picked the be

MOVIE makers and lovers of the big screen have gathered in Bolton this evening for the final night of cinema celebrations.

The Bolton Film Festival is rounding off its first year with a red carpet event in the town centre.

The Light Cinema has played host to the two day festival which kicked off yesterday.

Organised by Bradshaw’s Adrian Barber, it has been showcasing the best independent short films from around the world.

Movies, from animation to documentaries, were submitted for the inaugural event from film makers both in Bolton and around the world.

Hitting the red carpet was Manchester actor John Henshaw – who knows Bolton from his time filming television series The Cops in the late 90s – and East is East and Holby City star Ian Aspinall.

John said: “I worked here a long time ago but haven’t been back in a while. There is a lot of creative talent in the area. There is a lot going on here and this is the big cultural side to it.

“I love short film and think it’s a great medium. I have done quite a few of them myself and it is a real art form.”

Ian, who hails from the Haugh, added: “This festival is great for Bolton and I have found myself back here in a really special night.

“There is a great buzz around here in a great cinema which is in this old but amazing market hall!”

Tonight included a showcase of short films dubbed the ‘Best of the Fest’ which featured anything from wrestling, war-tor countries, spot-motion animation tales of love between balls of twine to real-life stories of people suffering through ill health, anxiety and the age.

After two packed days of screenings and industry talks, the first year winners were also revealed.

A panel of judges picked the best of the best of the entries as prize winners.

Picking up the award for Best UK Short was BAFTA long-listed Edith directed by Christian Cook and starring Trainspotting’s Peter Mullan and Game of Thrones star Michelle Fairley.

Marnie Paxton-Harris, from Mini Productions, collected the award. She said: “A festival like this feels like it belongs here.

“There has been a really good collection of films, some have been really inspiring.

“I am really close to the heart of this film and Peter, Christian and everyone involved in the production will be really pleased to win. The standards of this category were so high.”

Flying the flag for Bolton was Anxiety – Ellis’s Story, a short film, created and produced by social enterprise Mr One Million, run by Bolton at Home.

The film telling 25-year-old Ellis Birtles’ battle with mental health in his own words won Best Community Short.

Ellis, from Farnworth, collected the award with film maker Paul Hines.

He said: “It feels really good to be awarded, it is a big surprise for me!

“It’s mind-blowing that our film from Bolton went up against all these other films and won an award.

“It was upsetting to watch but it has had a really good reaction and everyone is more understanding after watching it. It sends a strong message and people get it straight away.

“It has been great to see Mr One Million work on the big screen, so many young males benefit from the group so hopefully it will help get the word out there.”

Bolton-born producer Julie Foy also collected the Best film for Change award for The Silent Child, a story of a profoundly deaf girl learning to communicate.

Other winners on the night included:

Best North West Short – Rabbit Punch, a redemption tale of a refugee teenager set in Manchester

Best Animation – A Love Story, the 2017 BAFTA winning short about love faced with darkness

Best Comedy – The Kidnapping of Richard Franco, starring Daniel Rigby, Kelly Wenham and Patrick Baladi

Best International Short – The Devil is in the Detail, a French film set in a convent in 1859

Best Experimental - Green Screen Gringo

Best Student Film (Sixth Forum) – The Tale of Little Red, from Kendal College

(Undergraduate) – Stalemate, by Kieran Stringfellow from Falmouth University

(Postgraduate) – The Family Portrait, an award-winning film by Kelly Holmes