A YOUNG director has put the town on the big screen with the premiere of the short film Aimee.

Stephen Ware, 21, has produced a short film in a bid to inspire a new generation of film makers after he realised the town lacked a film industry compared to Bristol and London.

Aimee premiered last night at the Empire Cinema, in Greenbridge, and shows off the talent of Swindon as the cast and crew are all from Swindon.

Stephen, from Highworth, graduated from Staffordshire University last year and has teamed up with Firebird Films, a Swindon-based film production company to create the film in just under a year.

He said: “The reason why we are doing this is because we are looking to help the media and film industry grow in Swindon.

“It is great that we have finally got to this stage and when the film came on I was the most relieved person in the world.

“It’s great to have a film produced entirely by Swindon, it showcases the town and we do have the talent to create a film industry as big as Bristol or even London.”

The star of the show was 18-year-old Emily Harrison, of Blunsdon, who played the lead role of Aimee, despite never having performed in front of the camera before.

She said: “I have a history in performing poetry, so I am used to the performing and one of my friends sent me the link so I thought I would give it a go.

Also on screen was Joanna Windsor, 24, who played Claire and is about to start shooting for the new Meryl Streep film The Iron Lady.

She said: “My parents are from Old Town so when I heard about it I had to get involved and it’s been great.”

The project which has taken almost a year would never have got off the ground without sponsorship from local businesses, including the Empire Cinema, which hosted the premiere free of charge, and also Holiday Inn Express, Domino’s Pizza, Jazzbones Creative Ltd and JJ’s Hair Group, and Firebird Films.

Stephen said: “Empire threw us a lifeline when no other cinema wanted to help us out.”

Stephen hopes to take the film to national and international film festivals starting at the Swindon Film Festival on March 12.