A SEQUEL has been pencilled in for a groundbreaking movie showcase in Rossendale, which attracted rave reviews last year.

Young directors will again be descending on the Valley when the 2008 Bacup Film Festival takes place on October 24 and 25.

More than 200 individual efforts, including films from Canada, China and the US, were received for the inaugural event last year.

And the event, backed by the North West Arts Council, received high praise from Rossendale MP Janet Anderson, herself a former film minister.

The grand finale will once again be at the New Millennium Theatre, in Waterfoot, with a competition deadline set for August 24.

A film festival spokesman said: "Although in its pilot year, the 2007 festival was a great success, with Janet Anderson giving the festival very high acclaim.

"The diversity in films that were screened illustrated the festival's aim to bring such a vast range of talent, from all ages and abilities, to the public eye."

Last year's winners ranged from Salsa Guy, by Londoner Guy Alvarez, to Manchester University student Simon Clayton's documentary New Tricks.

The best junior film-maker's prize went to John Laws, from Hartlepool, for his piece Wayward Escape.

And a special prize for innovation, named in memory of Bacup student Sophie Lancaster, was presented to Mercy Liao, of Chester, for her work, A Self-Critical Sinner's Murder.

The festival did receive entries from a number of Rossendale and Lancashire film makers but supporters are keen to boost their representation at the 2008 gathering.

The spokesman added: "We aim to bring together film makers with varying backgrounds and abilities, with the aim to host a festival that is overflowing with creativity and talent, and most importantly, great short films.

"We are looking for short fiction, documentary animation and experimental films to screen at the 2008 festival."

Entries must be submitted on DVD, with a £5 entry fee, to the film festival at 1a Market Street, Bacup, OL13 1EX before the August deadline.

The short fiction, experimental and animations must be no more than 15 minutes long, including credits, with 25 minutes allowed for documentary submissions.