YORK-based film director Mark Herman will head the bill at an award ceremony for talented young film-makers.

Mark Herman, best known for Brassed Off and Little Voice, is one of the people presenting awards at this year's film and television screenings tomorrow.

This is the first time that an awards ceremony will form part of the event, which celebrates the work of students on the Theatre, Film And Television degree programme at York St John College.

Mr Herman will present the award for best fiction film, while Ian Cundall, head of factuals at BBC Leeds, and Mike Best, former head of Yorkshire Television, will present the best non-fiction award. The best first film prize will be chosen and presented by Tony Dixon, emerging talent manager at Screen Yorkshire.

Mr Herman, who was born in Bridlington, studied film at Leeds College before going on to train as an animator at the National Film School, in London.

During his career as a director Mr Herman has won critical acclaim for films including Brassed Off, Little Voice and Purely Belter.

Students from the degree were invited to submit DVDs of their work for consideration by a panel of industry professionals and academic staff.

And, like the Oscars, the results will be announced on the day.

The prizes include £250 donated by Yorkshire Television, which will go towards the winner's next film.

The awards ceremony will be preceded by the film and television screenings, which showcase six films and three television projects by final-year students.

An invited audience of student filmmakers, industry representatives and friends and relations will be entertained by a wide variety of subject matter, including The Last Man On Earth, a children's programme and an acoustic music session.

The films illustrate the breadth of creativity inspired by the degree programme.

Dr Rob Edgar-Hunt, head of programme, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to demonstrate publicly their talents and abilities in front of representatives from our industry partners.

"Much of the organisation of this year's event has been undertaken by two of our students, Roxy Iqbal and Chris Page, who have done a brilliant job.

"This is the first stage in many glittering careers in the film and television industry -- the films are evidence of the quality of ideas and technical abilities developed by our students."

The awards ceremony will take place at the Pitcher and Piano, Coney Street, at 1pm and the Film & Television Screenings will take place at City Screen, York, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Updated: 10:28 Monday, May 23, 2005