YOUNG filmmakers from Weymouth are proud as punch after their animated tale about the town’s famous royal visitor was shown at a major festival.

Children from Beechcroft St Paul’s Primary School made the film The Sadness of King George with a team of artists and filmmakers from Dorchester Arts Centre.

The three minute animation, which can be seen on the Dorset Echo website, was chosen from hundreds of entries to be shown at the Co-operative Film Festival at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Representatives from the arts centre visited the festival and collected certificates and badges for the children. The film tells the story of Weymouth’s original holidaymaker, George III, and was lottery funded through the National Film Council’s First Light initiative.

The art centre’s artistic director Sharon Hayden, who travelled to Bradford, said: “It was too far for the children to go, but two of us from the artistic team went to collect their certificates and badges.

“We met five members of the film selection panel who were very complimentary about the project – they said it had really put Weymouth on the map.”

Beechcroft’s assistant headteacher Craig Holloway, whose class made the film, said: “I love this film and the children loved making it even more. It means so much to all of them and will be one of those life changing moments in a child’s life.”

Ten-year-old Lucy Ciceron, one of the Year Five production team from Beechcroft, added: “It was an awesome experience to be involved – I am really grateful to have had the chance.”