Budding Steven Spielbergs are invited to try out their film-making talents for a chance to attend a glitzy awards ceremony.

As part of the Swale Film Festival, which launched three weeks ago, youngsters aged 11 to 23 have the chance to enter their own movies.

Films can be any genre, from documentaries and comedies to dramas and animations, they must be between five and 10 minutes long and suitable for general audiences.

Entry to the competition is free and there is a chance to win in three categories - best emerging film-makers, best young film-maker and best youth award.

The winners of the awards will be given a glass trophy, a certificate and a trip to a film studio.

Kelvin Packham and Holly Jarret, who won last year's competition with their film Edios, have sponsored the best emerging film-maker award.

They have pledged to visit the school or youth club of the winners of this category to give a talk about movies.

Ten films will be shortlisted and judged by professional film-makers and young people from the Sheppey Matters Rural Youth Project and Sheppey Young Person's Focus Group.

Those shortlisted will be invited to a red carpet-style awards ceremony at the Avenue Theatre in Sittingbourne on Saturday, September 25.

Entries will be judged on script, camera and sound skills, design, make up, editing and the ability of the performing artists. The closing date is Friday, September 10.

Ken Rowles, director of Swale Film Festival, said: "If last year's film-makers competition is anything to go by, this year's youth competition will be full of creative and well-produced films."

Download an entry form at www.swalefilmfestival.org.uk