A FILM made by a Bolton director and starring a Farnworth resident has been shortlisted for a national award.

The work of Paul Blinkhorn, a Bolton based writer and director, is up for the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s prestigious 2016 Research in Film Awards.

The 13 minute short called ‘After Auschwitz’ has been shortlisted in the Inspiration Award category and features actress Cathleen Blower, from Farnworth.

It explores the ‘emotional survival of one woman and how she deals with her acceptance of the past’ and was originally written by Mr Blinkhorn as a play and was produced by Ultimatum Films.

Former Bolton Sixth Form head boy, Mr Blinkhorn, said: “It’s a real privilege to have been nominated.

“The journey of ‘After Auschwitz’ has been an incredibly personal one for everyone involved. From start to finish the research we undertook informed not only the development of the script itself but also our approach to the film’s visual style.

“Though we were telling a fictional account of a survivor we remained committed to telling a very human story that was deeply rooted in historical fact.”

After Auschwitz features Macclesfield actress Hazel Earle and Cathleen Blower, then aged 79, filming at her shelter accommodation in Farnworth over three days, as well as a day at the picturesque Sandys Row Synagogue in London.

Mr Blinkhorn launched an internet crowdfunder campaign in May to raise funds to support the short film’s submission to festivals, nationally and internationally.

Hundreds of films were submitted for the Research in Film Awards and the overall winner for each category, who will receive £2,000 towards their film-making, will be announced at a special ceremony at BAFTA in London on the November 10.

Set up in 2015, the awards celebrate short films, up to 30 minutes long, that have been made about the arts and humanities and their influence on our lives.

A team of judges watched the longlisted films in each of the categories to select the shortlist and ultimately the winner.

Mike Collins, Head of Communications at the Arts and Humanities Research Council, said: “The standard of film-making in this year’s Research in Film Awards has been exceptionally high and the range of themes covered span the whole breadth of arts and humanities subjects.

“While watching the films I was impressed by the careful attention to detail and rich story telling that the film-makers had used to engage their audiences.

“Above all, the shortlist showcases the art of film-making as a way of helping us to understand the world that we live in today.”

The winning films will be shared on the Arts and Humanities Research Council website and YouTube channel.