A FILM produced by a woman who grew up in Ryedale has been nominated for an Oscar.

Serena Armitage, whose family live in Fadmoor, is one of three film-makers behind the British drama Stutterer.

The film is about a young man’s difficulties dating with a severe stutter and has already won multiple awards and has just been nominated for Short Film Live Action at this year's Academy Awards.

It has been produced by Serena, who has worked at ITV for 10 years, directing and producing some the countries most popular television shows such as Come Dine with Me, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories and the BAFTA nominated TV series Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs.

The 34-year-old developed an interest in film-making while at Edinburgh University, making her own films and videos before getting a job in television as a runner.

She gradually worked her way up to producer before founding Bare Golly Films with friend and fellow producer Shan Christopher Ogilvie.

The pair were joined by friend Ben Cleary, who has made his directorial debut with Stutter.

Serena said the idea for the film had come from an article Ben had seen in a newspaper.

"It described how difficult it is to communicate on the phone when suffering from a severe stutter," she said.

"We all had experience of online dating and were interested in the angle of how easy it is to put yourself across online, but in reality have to leave up to the persona you have created.

"When you make a film you have no idea how good it is or whether people will like it until it is shown but it has been extremely well received."

Stutterer was made on a on a shoestring budget of £5,000 and has been selected for almost 30 prestigious film festivals winning the Best Foreign Film prize from the Oscar qualifying Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, the Special Jury Award at Savannah Film Festival, Best International Short Film Prize at Kerry Film Festival, the Best Drama Award at Aesthetica Short Film Festival along with many more awards.

Serena said that after become eligible to enter the Oscars she had hidden the application form from family and friends.

"We had to pay £100 to enter which is money we didn't have but I thought we would always kick ourselves if we didn't try," she said.

"When I found out we had been successful I was speechless - it didn't feel real at all and took some time to sink in."

Serena said the response from everyone had been very positive.

"We will be going out to Los Angeles for a month to promote the film and hopefully get some sponsorship," she said.

"When I told my family they were all very excited for me. I just feel it is worth trying as you should never underestimate what you can achieve. I feel very lucky and enjoying the moment."