A MOVIE buff from Harpenden who directed a documentary on his favourite local heroine has been named one of the UK's most talented filmmakers.

Ed Wiles, aged 33, is one of 42 shortlisted candidates in The 14 Islands Film Challenge, a movie-making competition which selects the 14 most talented filmmakers in the country and whisks them off to an island in The Bahamas to shoot their own masterpiece.

To get through to the finals, Ed had to make a short film based on an inspirational person from his local community and, inspired by her fundraising work, he chose founder of the Royal MENCAP Society Judy Fryd, who once lived at the end of his road.

Ed, who is a screenwriter by trade, said that she was the obvious choice: "To me Judy was just a smiley little old lady, but I think behind all that she was quite a formidable campaigner. She's just been put on a royal mail stamp too, so she certainly deserved to be the star of my film."

Ed, whose favourite films include Groundhog Day and Reservoir Dogs, spent hours researching Judy, who would have been 100 this year, and said that his short film was in the style of the BBC'S Who Do You Think You Are.

The 14 Islands Film Challenge judging panel - chaired by film director Bharat Nalluri, who directed BBC smash shits such as Spooks and Hustle - are currently judging the 42 shortlisted films and Ed will find out if he made it to the final 14 today (Thursday).

Ed, who has never been to The Bahamas before, said that he would love to win: "To shoot my own film in The Bahamas for two weeks would be an amazing experience. I like to think that I have a chance of winning but even if I don't I'm glad that I took the time to focus on Judy and her incredible work."

To view Ed's film and all the other entries, visit www.14islandsfilmchallenge.com