THE launch of a new local film festival was held at the Reel Cinema in Chippenham last week.

Members of Chippenham town council, Wiltshire Council, Local Youth Network, Chippenham Boroughlands Charity, staff and media students from Wiltshire College attended the event to promote the festival to be held in June next year.

The audience were welcomed by the Chippenham Mayor Desna Allen to view two short films from the Kandu team, and hear about how emerging film makers can enter their pitches to Kandu Arts for the opportunity to have support in their project from their professional film making team.

Students were also invited to submit their course final project films to the festival judges for an opportunity for screening at the festival in the summer.

The winning films also will have a chance to be shown as shorts, along side the main features at the cinema. The short films shown were a drama called The Pen, winner of the Craghoppers Best British Film award 2018 and Cuckooed, which was made with members of Chippenham community and visitors from London, and explores some challenging issues that affect young people.

This film is part of a wider engagement project in partnership with Chippenham Town Council, Wiltshire Council and others. The cinema has thanked the councils, college staff and students for their support, and Muhammad Faisal and the cinema team.