ENTER Shikari, one of St Albans’ most successful home-grown talents, have signed up to judge the music video category of the upcoming film festival.

The post-hardcore band will pick their favourite entry out of the 12 videos competing for Best Music Video, something which the group’s drummer Rob Rolfe is looking forward to.

He said: “I love my home town, I am also a big film fan so I got very excited when I saw there was going to be a St Albans film festival.

“I thought it would do great things for both the area and new talent. So, naturally I was very keen to be involved when we were contacted.

“We have enjoyed taking a very active role in the production of our music videos so I’m very keen to see what kind of creativity the contestants have entered.

“It is a shame I can’t be there on the night of the ceremony as we’ll be touring in the states, but I look forward to watching all the videos.”

Leoni Kibbey, film festival director, said: “It’s fantastic that Enter Shikari have come on board as Music Video judge.

“They are the most important and successful band to have come out of St Albans and it will mean so much to the filmmakers in this category to have their work judged by them.

“The boys will be smashing America at the time of the festival so won’t be here in person, but I am really grateful to them for supporting the Film Festival and their home city in this way.”

In the running for the award is Daria Kulesh’s entry Tom Tom, which recently made the national news as it paid homage to Tom Cruise’s St Albans curry house visit last year.

The Top Gun star popped into Veer Dhara in St Peter’s Street in August, while filming sci-fi action movie All You Need Is Kill at Leavesden Studios near Watford.

He apparently dined with seven guests and two bodyguards and feasted on lobster, chicken and vegetable dishes.

Leoni said: “Tom Tom is a really funny video featuring lots of people wearing Tom Cruise masks eating curry!

“Daria is a really talented songwriter and filmmaker and was inspired by the ‘A’ lister’s visit to one of St Albans’ many Indian restaurants with his entourage last Summer when he was filming in the area.

“This film festival is really about getting talent like Daria’s out there, and enabling local residents and visitors to the area to see what a wealth of creative talent we have uncovered, both in St Albans itself and also further afield.”

The winner of the category will get the award and £500 prize money.

Screenings of the shortlisted entries will be shown at the Horn on Saturday, March 9, and there will also be live performances. Folk singer Daria will kick off the live music at 1pm.

For more information on the festival, which takes place from March 8 to 10, visit ttp://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com/