PUPILS from Swindon's Commonweal School will attend a star-studded mini Oscars bash in London next week.

The budding film-makers all members of the school's dyslexic unit have been nominated for Best Animation in a competition run by the UK Film Festival.

A panel of celebrity judges, including British movie star Jude Law, is now deciding which films will scoop the First Light Film Awards at the ceremony in glitzy Leicester Square on Wednesday.

The pupils' masterpiece, which shows the trials and tribulations of a dyslexic postman Postman Tap was shot at Swindon's Cre8 Studios last year.

Marilyn Fitzgerald of Cre8 said a great deal of hard work went into the project.

She said: "It's fantastic that the children have been nominated.

"The film is about a Swindon postman who gets all the mail mixed up.

"He gets really upset with himself because he can't do his job properly. But then his boss at the post office realises that he has other strengths.

"The postman even fixes his computer when it goes wrong. The postman then shines.

"It's a positive story with a serious message. It explores dyslexia and people's attitudes to it. The children were speaking from experience."

James and Mark Carroll, of local film company, The Evil Twins, supplied the technical know-how.

James said: "It's wonderful to be able to pass on the skills we have learnt to the kids at Commonweal. It's an opportunity that we wish we had when we were their age."

The children from Commonweal School and their teachers have been invited to attend the glitzy ceremony. They will be treated to a pre-awards breakfast at entertainment venue Sound, where they can mingle with celebrities and be interviewed by TV camera crews eager to meet Swindon's young film-makers.

Coun Jemima Milton, cabinet member for arts and culture added: "I understand the difficulties faced by young dyslexics and I am thrilled that this project with cre8 has been a success.

"It is a wonderful boost to the children's confidence."

Other youngsters have produced a documentary about a champion swimmer in Merseyside.

And a group from Hereford explores the plight of a school bully who takes on a magician over a game of pool.

John Woodward, chief executive of UK Film Council, said: "Young people from across the UK have produced some fantastic films despite little or no previous experience of film-making.

"These films demonstrate the wealth of talent and creativity throughout the UK."

The ceremony will be hosted by CBBC presenter Jake Humphrey.

The categories are: Best Comedy, Best Horror/Thriller, Best Special Effects, Best Film by Under 12s, Best Film by Over 13s, Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Animation and Best Documentary.

Kevin Shoesmith