MOVIE makers and lovers of the big screen gathered in Bolton for the final night of cinema celebrations.

The Bolton Film Festival rounded off its first year on Thursday evening with a red carpet event in the town centre.

The Light Cinema has played host to the two-day festival which kicked off on Wednesday.

Organised by Bradshaw’s Adrian Barber, it has been showcasing the best independent short films from around the world.

Movies, from animation to documentaries, were submitted for the inaugural event from film makers both in Bolton and around the world.

Among those who attended was Manchester actor John Henshaw – who knows Bolton from his time filming television series The Cops in the late 90s – and East is East and Holby City star Ian Aspinall.

John said: “I worked here a long time ago but haven’t been back in a while. There is a lot of creative talent in the area. There is a lot going on here and this is the big cultural side to it.

“I love short film and think it’s a great medium. I have done quite a few of them myself and it is a real art form.”

Ian, who hails from The Haugh, added: “This festival is great for Bolton and I have found myself back here for a really special night.

“There is a great buzz around here in a great cinema which is in this old but amazing market hall!”

The night included a showcase of short films dubbed the ‘Best of the Fest’ which featured everything from wrestling, war-torn countries and spot-motion animation tales of love between balls of twine to real-life stories of people suffering through ill health, anxiety and old age.

After two packed days of screenings and industry talks, the first year winners were also revealed.

A panel of judges – which included former artistic director of the Octagon and University of Bolton professor David Thacker, television writer Chris Lunt, and movie actor George Newton – helped whittle down the entrants to play over the two days and have picked the best of the best as prize winners.

Picking up the award for Best UK Short was BAFTA long-listed Edith – a haunting tale of widower coming to terms with his wife’s death - directed by Christian Cook and starring Trainspotting’s Peter Mullan and Game of Thrones star Michelle Fairley.

Marnie Paxton-Harris, from Mini Productions, collected the award. She said: “A festival like this feels like it belongs here.

“There has been a really good collection of films, some have been really inspiring.

“I am really close to the heart of this film and Peter, Christian and everyone involved in the production will be really pleased to win. The standards of this category were so high.”

Flying the flag for Bolton was Anxiety – Ellis’s Story, a short film, created and produced by not for profit community arts and media company Mr One Million, a social enterprise run through Bolton at Home.

The film telling 25-year-old Ellis Birtles’ battle with mental health in his own words won Best Community Short.

Directed by Gino Evans, it hit the big screen on Thursday night alongside BAFTA award winners, with Ellis featuring alongside acclaimed actors Peter Mullen, Michelle Fairley and Daniel Rigby.

Ellis, from Farnworth, collected the award with film maker Paul Hines.

He said: “It feels really good to be awarded, it is a big surprise for me!

“It’s mind-blowing that our film from Bolton went up against all these other films and won an award."

Ellis, who suffers from anxiety, explained: "I was having a bad day and I was talking about it to Gino and he just started recording our conversation about life on depression. He edited it and played it back to me. It sounded so sincere and summed up everything."

Bolton-born producer Julie Foy also collected the Best film for Change award for The Silent Child, a story of a profoundly deaf girl learning to communicate.

Director Chris Overton said: “The standard of films has just been absolutely brilliant and we are really proud to be part of Bolton Film Festival's first year. It has been such a professional festival!

Best International Short went to French film The Devil is in the Detail and lead actress Laure Lefort travelled from Paris to the festival.

She said: “I have really enjoyed the festival and the very rich collection of movies. It has been really nice discovering this part of England and I have really enjoyed it.”

Organisers and the Light Cinema hailed the event a huge success, thanking everyone who had taken part.

Mr Barber also spoke of his delight at how the event went.

He said: "It couldn't have gone any better! All section of the Bolton community came together.

"That's what we wanted it to do, it's all about coming together and making the town a better place!"

Full list of winners:

Best International Short - The Devil is in the Detail

Best UK Short - Edith

Best North West Short – Rabbit Punch

Best Animation – A Love Story

Best Experimental - Green Screen Gringo

Best Comedy – The Kidnapping of Richard Franco

Best Film For Change - The Silent Child

Best Community - Anxiety – Ellis’s Story

Best Student Film (Sixth Forum) – The Tale of Little Red

(Undergraduate) – Stalemate

(Postgraduate) – The Family Portrait

"That was just a normal day and here we are winning an award for it!"

As well as capturing Ellis' monologue on the ups and downs of day in his life, the young man was filmed in and around the town, with the film featuring locations such as Victoria Square and roof of the Market Place shopping centre.

Paul, aged 25, was recruited on to the project after previously working on the Mr One Million short film which told the story of Danny, a young unemployed man from Breightmet.

He said: "We came up with the idea of films that explored issues that were close to people's hearts. We have done lots of interviews with guys who are dealing with issues like alcoholism, gambling, drugs, family problems.

"this is the first time we have entered it into a festival. I was sent the link by Bolton at Home and did it in a spare 45 minutes and that was it!

"Funnily enough we filmed on top of this centre gorilla style and were found by security and kicked out! and now we are watching it in here!"

To find out more visit www.mronemillion.org.