A festival celebrating top movie-making talent is calling on submissions for the 2012 event.

Organisers of the Norwich Film Festival are searching for aspiring film-makers to showcase their work in a bid to build on their success last year.

More than 90 films from 13 different countries were screened at the 2011 festival to give audiences the chance to see movies not available in mainstream cinema.

Film-makers can enter the festival, which will have categories for short films, animation, documentary and student films under 30 minutes.

A new category has also been launched to find the best one-minute movie.

Festival organiser Kellen Playford hopes the event will encourage more people in the region to make films.

The 27-year-old, from Colman Road, said: 'Obviously we are not going to be able to compete with the big festivals, but what we want to do is give up-and-coming film-makers a break and give exposure to students' work.'

Talks are under way with Cinema City on St Andrew's Street and the Odeon Cinema at Riverside about hosting the event. Last year's Best Film Winner, Ana's Playground by Eric D Howell, went on to win 16 international film festival awards.

'We were one of the first films to show Ana's Playground and it went on to be nominated for an Oscar.

'This year we are looking to uncover another gem that can go on to amaze the world,' Mr Playford said.

The festival will take place in the last weekend of March. For more information visit www.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk

For the latest film and entertainment news, read the Going Out section in Friday's Evening News or visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/goingout.

Are you making a film in Norwich? Contact reporter Ben Woods on 01603 772 439 or email ben.woods@archant.co.uk