EXCITED young Barrow filmmakers can't wait to walk the red carpet at a star-studded awards ceremony and see their films screened at the world-famous Odeon cinema in Leicester Square.

Talented pupils from Barrow Island Primary School and youngsters from the Signal Starters Film and Media Project have seen their films nominated for the 2017 Into Film Awards.

The groups, who both worked with Barrow's Signal Film and Media on their projects, have now been invited to be VIPs at the national awards which will be presented by popular TV and radio presenter Edith Bowman and will include other celebrity guests.

Year Six pupils from Barrow Island Primary have been shortlisted in the Best Documentary - 12 and under category for their short documentary The Lost Station , while the eight to 11-year-olds from the Signal Starters group will contest the "Best Animation 12 and under" category for the animation The Lost Roar .

The Lost Station from Into Film on Vimeo.

The Lost Roar from Into Film on Vimeo.

The awards are hosted by film and education organisation Into Film, which is supported by the BFI through National Lottery funding and counts Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and Oscar-nominated Naomie Harris among its ambassadors.

The awards pay tribute to outstanding five to 19-year-olds who have shown exceptional achievements in filmmaking or film reviewing, and to educators who have demonstrated inspirational use of film in the classroom.

Barrow Island Primary's The Lost Station tells the story of the nearby former Barrow Island Shipyard Station using simple animated techniques and the memories of local residents to create a heart-warming record linking generations. This project was funded by Heritage Lottery. In The Lost Roar a young circus lion is teased for not being able to roar, until he finds his inner power when a scary visitor comes to town. This was a summer holidays project. The Signal Starter initiative has been funded through BBC Children in Need.

The Into Film Awards are now in their third year. The short films nominated explore a wide range of issues, often pertinent to their age group such as bullying, self-confidence, school, friendships and first relationships.

The awards will be judged by a panel of industry leaders including actors, directors and screenwriters. They include Star Wars: The Force Awakens animatronics designer Tahra Zafar, Oscar-winning VFX supervisor for Ex-Machina Sara Bennett, Rush actor Stephen Mangan and Game of Thrones actor Ed Skrein.

In previous years the guests at the ceremony have included actors Michael Sheen and Naomie Harris.

Janet Dixon, the headteacher of Barrow Island Primary School, said: "This is massive for our children and school. This could be life-changing for some of our children.

"They are so, so excited to go to London and have this experience.

"It's like a mini Academy Awards for them."

Teacher Paul Alalouf who worked on the project thanked Signal Film and Media and said that the process was great for the children as it covered literacy, local history, ICT and gaining new digital and filmmaking skills.

Steph Bryant, project manager at Signal Film and Media, said the awards nominations present brilliant opportunities for all the children.

Paul Reeve, chief executive officer of Into Film, said: “Each year we are very excited to come together at the Into Film Awards to celebrate young people’s achievements in filmmaking and reviewing, and their passion for film. It’s always inspiring to receive their entries, which reveal an incredible array of skills, creativity and imagination. Children and young people have wonderful and important stories to tell in film, which reflect the way they see the world and enable the audience to look through their eyes. Those stories can also touch on subjects close to their hearts and personal experience, as we have seen this year with nominated films highlighting themes and issues such as what it is like to be a child refugee living in the UK, coping with low self-esteem and the fight for equality.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide a platform to showcase and celebrate their work, and alongside this to recognise the skill, passion and commitment of teachers and film clubs that are enriching their young people’s learning and lives by engaging them with film.”