Published: 17/05/2010 12:00 - Updated: 18/05/2010 09:51

STORTFORD’S young Spielbergs and Scorseses will be showing off their talents at the town’s first ever independent film festival.

The event, which takes place at the Rhodes Arts Complex on Saturday (May 22), includes screenings of 20 short films made by teens and young adults across the Observer area – and entries will be judged by some top names.

Oscar-nominated novelist, playwright and scriptwriter Hanif Kureishi, whose 1990 literary debut The Buddha of Suburbia won that year’s Whitbread Award, has agreed to sit on the festival panel.

Hanif, whose 2006 screenplay Venus was also shortlisted for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, is checking out the entries before the big day and will be sending his feedback.

Also on the jury is Cambridge-based actress and director Kate Madison, who became a worldwide media sensation after ploughing her life savings into shooting her own Lord of the Rings prequel Born of Hope. The finished product was broadcast online to widespread acclaim.

Ben Satchfield and James Garrett from local production company HNE Media are also judging, as are Bishop’s Stortford High School media tutor Tony Lupton and Observer video reporter James Burton. The audience will also be asked to vote for their favourite film.

The winner will be sent on a professional video training course, courtesy of top London indie film festival Raindance, and will also get a new camcorder. On top of that, they’ll be given a year’s free entry to Rhodes’ cinema events and its monthly music night Rhodes Rocks!

The night wraps up with a showing of Lee Daniels’ 2009 US indie drama Precious, which won several awards at that year’s Sundance Film Festival and also made the official selection at Cannes.

Festival co-ordinator Dave Mullarkey said: “We’re trying to set up the groundwork for something bigger and better, so this is a case of testing the water and seeing how it goes. We’ve got some really high-quality work from some fantastic young filmmakers and we want people to see it.”

The festival kicks off at 1.30pm and is open to viewers aged 15 or over. Tickets are £10 for the day or £5 for the evening screening of Precious. For information and bookings, ring (01279) 651746.