FILM-MAKERS from around the region are being invited to show off their work at a digital film festival being staged in Gloucestershire in March.

Organisers of the ViewFinder festival are inviting budding film-makers to submit their fictional or factual digital films that have been produced or shot in Gloucestershire, feature local life and activities, or are made by county residents.

There are five categories - ages seven to 11, 11-18, further and higher education students, amateur or community-based, and professionals. Films should be no longer than three minutes or could be a three-minute extract from a longer film. Work in the professional category can be up to ten minutes long.

The chosen films will be shown across the county including at the University of Gloucestershire and the Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury.

"Each year many interesting films are made in Gloucestershire but few of them are seen by a wider audience," said festival co-ordinator and university field chair in film studies Tico Romao. "As well as being a celebration of work already produced, the aim of the festival is also to inspire, stimulate and educate the audience to get more involved in digital film production."

Final date for submissions is February 1. Details and a submission form can be found on www.viewfinderfilm.info/ or by email at troma@glos.ac.uk.