Mark Ashmore shot his film Your State of Emergency in his home town and it has enjoyed huge success on the internet, notching up a quarter-of-a-million hits when it was released last year and is still getting around 400 hits per month.

It has now been accepted into the Short Film Corner at the glamorous Cannes Film Festival –– but it will cost 27-year-old Mark £4,000 to jet out to the French Riviera to promote the film.

Said Mark, of Abbott Road: "It's an amazing honour. The Cannes Film Festival is the world's most prestigious film festival and to be part of it with my film is like winning an Oscar. It's just one of those big chances – you don't get many opportunities like this."

Your State of Emergency is about a white middle-class family who get arrested for taking part in protests about human rights and against the Government. Mark funded the £3,000 production costs on credit cards.

He hopes that if he can get it screened at Cannes it will help launch his professional directing career –– but with the festival starting on 14th May he does not have long to secure the funding needed.

And to avoid building up more debts he is hoping local businesses or individuals will step forward and help him to present his film on an international stage.

He said: "I will be doing press interviews and every time my film gets a mention the companies will get a mention. It's pretty good advertising –– massive exposure for the company.

"But I will find more credit cards if I have to. At the end of the day, if you are going to pursue something you have to do it 110 per cent, even if it means getting into a bit of debt."

Anyone interested in providing sponsorship to help fund Mark's promotional work in Cannes should email him at ashinibiza@hotmail.com.

To view Mark's film visit www.yourstate.co.uk.