THE worldwide online premiere of a Blackburn film director’s debut movie will take place on the Lancashire Telegraph website tomorrow.

The hard-hitting short Throw Me To The Dogs, directed by Blackburn-born Aaron Dunleavy, won five awards and was screened at Bafta and Oscar qualifying festivals.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 21-year-old used gritty locations in Blackburn’s Griffin area and Accrington for his scenes.

The former Darwen Vale and Blackburn College student will graduate from University of the Arts London this year.

As he prepares to film his next movie, The Truants, on location in East Lancashire next month, Mr Dunleavy said he wants to give Lancashire Telegraph readers the first chance to see Throw Me To The Dogs.

He said: “The response from the local community through the Lancashire Telegraph has always been fantastic.

“I am so pleased to be able to share the full short film online for everyone who has supported us over the last year to watch.

“We shot Throw Me To The Dogs for a week in the February half-term last year. We had a completely local cast and a shoestring budget of just £900.

“The film is inspired by my childhood growing up in Blackburn, filmed around the part-demolished terraced streets of Griffin where my family still lives. It was great to be able to make a film so close to my heart, and the local support was overwhelming.

“We released a casting call through the newspaper, calling for local children to apply to be in the film. After casting in schools and approaching youth groups, we found a talented and natural group of local lads.

“As the film was entirely improvised, none of the cast had to learn lines and we did not allow them to see the script.

“The film was fantastically well received on the festival circuit, winning five awards, with praise from Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw.

“It was also selected and screened at some of the most prestigious Bafta and Oscar qualifying festivals in the world.”

Throw Me To The Dogs will be available to view on the Lancashire Telegraph website from midnight.

The film was classified for festival showing as a 15 and contains strong language and scenes of mild violence.