A POPULAR film festival has been honoured at Basingstoke’s own red carpet ceremony.

The team behind Exit 6 Film Festival, which is now in its fourth year this year, was presented with the award in the Arts and Entertainment category at the Place to be Proud of Awards on Thursday last week.

The annual short film showcase welcomes the next generation of filmmakers from across the UK to Basingstoke for a day to give them a platform for their work.

Last year’s events included the showing of an array of films, as well as visits to Basingstoke town centre from famous film vehicles, such as the Batmobile.

Marketing director at Exit 6 Film Festival, Amy Burns, said: “It was amazing to be nominated, let alone win the award.

“We’ve now been doing the festival for four years, and we are hoping to inspire more filmmakers and people to get engaged with film.

“We are also looking to put put Basingstoke on the cultural map and get more recognition for the town.

“We are hoping to get bigger and better as time goes on.

“We have had huge support from the town as well as Basingstoke Together, we are so grateful to them for helping us get going.”

Nina Muir, from award sponsor Destination Basingstoke, said: “Exit 6 Film Festival welcomes next generation film makers from all over the UK in its annual short film showcase.

“It’s listed in the top 100 best reviewed film festivals and a worthy winner of this category –long may it continue to grow in years to come.”

This year’s festival will be on September 28.

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