ASPIRING film-makers can get in on the action at this year’s Holmfirth Film Festival.

Plans for the second festival are in full swing and organisers are looking for film-makers to enter its local short film competition.

And last year’s winner, Phil Lofas, is set to make his small screen debut – on BBC’s Countryfile programme.

Phil will appear on Countryfile where his film The Holmfirth Boggart, will be featured.

Phil, a first-time film-maker, was the winner of the ‘Golden Compo’ – a tribute to Last of the Summer Wine’s most celebrated character at the festival last year.

Tim Copsey, who works in the film industry and is running the competition, said it was a great opportunity for all.

“We are wanting people to make short serious, funny and even bizarre films about the many characters that live – or lived – in the Holme Valley.

“Everyone knows or knows of that one person who stands out, who has an interesting background and life or has done something that should be more widely known.

“It would be also good to include those films that express something of the character of the area.”

And it’s open for all to get involved in: last year’s runners-up were school pupils Rachel Byrom, Emma Mehrdadi and Lily Meakin, who produced a film on their mobile phones.

The first Holmfirth Film Festival featured Britain’s best known film critic, Barry Norman, who gave a talk at Holmfirth Picturedrome.

But plans and potential guest appearances for this year’s week-long film festival in May are still being finalised.

In the run-up to the festival, a series of award-winning feature films will be shown at the Picturedrome on the last Sunday of every month.

Festival director Stephen Dorril said: “We are lucky and grateful that Screen Yorkshire have awarded us a grant to help put on films in the Valley.

“With Picturedrome owner Peter Carr screening films again and the start of Sunday nights, hopefully this is the beginning of a regular film presence in the area.

“Funding in general is tight this year – we welcome business sponsorship – but we are aiming to top last year’s successful launch with more celebrities, more films and more events throughout the Holme Valley.”

Holmfirth Film Festival will run from Saturday, May 21 to Saturday, May 28.

For further information visit www.holmfirthfilmfestival.co.uk, where details of the Sunday Night Films at the Picturedrome are available.