A NINE-year-old film director has had her work recognised across the globe with a film she co-directed screened at the Chicago International Film Festival.

The short film, The Guitar Player, was made entirely by students from the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) Tees Valley, in Stockton, which tutors youngsters after four to 18.

The film itself stars primary school-aged children who tug on the heartstrings of viewers with their short tale.

The Guitar Player tells the story of a young musician who takes to the streets with his acoustic guitar. However, his punk sensibility seems to be a nuisance to passers-by.

It is only a little girl with a unique perspective who is able to see the boy’s charm and uses sign language to ask him to teach her how to play. The boy is heartened by the friendly stranger and a smile lights up his face.

The two-minute film is one of only four UK short films selected for the screening in the CineYouth Festival during the Chicago International Film Festival.

Lydia Harland, who co-directed the film, was the youngest person nominated in the Under-22 category, being aged just nine at the time of filming.

The internationally acclaimed film has also enjoyed national success with screenings at PQA National Film Festival, Swindon Film Festival, North East Young Filmmakers Awards 2018 and 2019 and UKCineFest.

Laura Lonsdale, principal of PQA Tees Valley, said: “The students are over the moon with the success of the film and with its screenings in the UK and the USA, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“The film was a real team effort, and the students took great pleasure in perfecting the whole production, from start to finish.

“Many are already busy working on their next film projects.”

PQA is a weekend performing arts academy providing tuition for children and young people, based at Stockton Riverside College,

Students spend three hours with PQA rotating through hour-long sessions in comedy and drama, musical theatre and film and television.

PQA was started by actress Pauline Quirke and her producer husband Steve Sheen in 2007 with an Academy in their hometown, which has now led to more than 180 academies being set up nationwide.