YOUNG Bolton film maker Louise Fielding went along to London's National Film Theatre -- and had the thrill of seeing her film on the big screen.

Homeless Truths was among the 143 chosen to be shown from 346 submitted for the Co-operative Young Film-Makers Festival.

Louise, 18, was also presented with a Screening Award certificate by Jonathan Andrews of NCH-Action for Children, a charity working for young, needy children.

The award was in recognition of the social awareness Louise displayed in her six-minute film, which focused on the reasons for homelessness and the problems facing homeless people.

But the accolades did not end there for Breightmet's budding Spielberg. Louise, studying for a BA in Film and Video at the University of Wales, also won the Mental Health Media Award for Understanding People.

"My tutor at college put my film forward", said Louise. "I was very surprised when I heard it was going to be shown.

"That by itself was brilliant, but to get the Mental Health Media Award as well was overwhelming. If just one person buys a Big Issue or helps the homeless as a result of my film I know it will have been worth it."

Next year's festival is planned to take place at Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in October. For more information, call Julia Youd on 01706 891412.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.