YOUNG filmakers were treated to the red carpet experience in Harwich on Saturday.

Children who took part in film making workshops during the October half term were the stars at their own film premiere at the Electric Palace Cinema.

The pupils from three primary schools across Harwich and Dovercourt and one from Colchester saw their film, Electric Waves, on the big screen surrounded by friends, family, Mayor of Harwich Jacky wares and mayoress Helen Gardner.

Funded by an Awards for All lottery grant the workshops run by Media Projects East, taught the children film making skills and they created their own movie based on research and interviews about Harwich's Seafaring and Maritime past.

The children listened to presentations about Harwich's maritime history from speakers from the RNLI, and curators from the High and Low Lighthouses museums.

Captain Richard Woodman and local fisherman Geoff Goode also contributed ideas to the project.

The pupils then created their own stories using computer animations, puppetry and music.

Carolyn Ford, film education officer at the palace, said: “The workshop was an outstanding success - the great thing about film making is that it is an activity which gets everyone involved.

“The Electric Palace is keen to create continuity with approaches to film education in order to help young people gain an understanding of this process which allows the most effective expression of a story.”

All of the children were presented with an 'Electric Waves' trophy in a BAFTA style award ceremony at the end of the film.