A GROUP of Suffolk youngsters are looking forward to seeing their school's name up in lights when their very own mini blockbuster makes its debut at a prestigious national film festival.

A GROUP of Suffolk youngsters are looking forward to seeing their school's name up in lights when their very own mini blockbuster makes its debut at a prestigious national film festival.

The South Lee School, in Bury St Edmunds, has had its short production - A Long Weekend - chosen out of 220 other entries to feature at this year's Co-operative Young Film Makers Festival.

The short film will be shown along with 99 others at the festival, which takes place at Bradford's National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, later this month.

The school's entry, which was submitted to the competition last year, is the work of former pupil Emily Broughton, who takes on the role of a travel agent trying to advertise a trip to Mars.

“Emily chose to make the film as part of a science project, and I thought it was so good I decided to enter it for the competition,” said Derek Whipp, headteacher.

“Even if it was not picked for the festival, I thought it would be a real boost for Emily to know we thought her work was worthy of entering.”

Although Emily, 11, has now left the school, Mr Whipp is hoping to raise enough funds to take a group of his pupils to see the festival, which takes place on October 13 and 14.

The 100 films picked for the festival - all under six minutes long - will be shown over nine screenings throughout the two-day event and include drama, documentaries, animation, and comedy films, as well as music videos.

Mr Whipp added: “We are very proud that one of our own pupils has come up with something so original and witty, and that it has been chosen for the festival.”