A FILM company is putting Teesside in the spotlight with plans to showcase the area at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Ironopolis Film Company will begin shooting the £4.5m independent movie Six Bend Trap in Middlesbrough next month.

The cast will be a mix of household names and actors from the region.

The company was established following a chance meeting in the US between Middlesbrough men Geoff Stalker and Mike McCarthy.

They met in an Arizona restaurant and ended up discussing film-making in Middlesbrough after they agreed the area was often negatively portrayed. Six Bend Trap will be their first feature.

So far, Paul Usher, best-known as Brookside's Barry Grant, comedians Cannon and Ball, and glamour model Jodie Marsh have accepted roles in the film.

Auditions for local actors and actresses were held last week at the Riverside Stadium. Applicants turned up from as far away as London.

Mr McCarthy said: "We were looking for ten actors from the Middlesbrough area so we held auditions at the Riverside Stadium.

"There was some good quality talent and we really wanted to give the film an authentic feel.

"We are trying to give people a better impression of Teesside - we have some excellent shots worked out for Saltburn, Redcar and Middlesbrough, including spectacular footage shot using a helicopter."

The shoot is expected to take about five weeks, and the filmmakers intend to screen the completed movie at next year's Cannes Film Festival.

Based at the Corus Teesside Technology Centre, Ironopolis has invested more than £10m in the latest Sony high-definition cameras, editing suites and special effects facilities.