Two teenagers from small West Cumbrian villages have been chosen for a prestigious British Film Institute Film Academy course.

Emma Wise, 17, of Greysouthen, and Lorna de Mello, 18, from Mawbray, are among 66 successful candidates from hundreds of applicants nationally who have won a place at the course over the Easter holidays.

Lorna, who is studying media and film at Carlisle College, said it was an opportunity of a lifetime, “not just to learn but to meet people in the industry and to make contacts for the future”.

She said she had been making films for as long as she could remember.

“I used to run around all day doing videos of the family,” she added.

“In 2012 I decided to make short films for You Tube.

“In 2015 I won a Cumbria Short Film compeition.

She said her ambition was to make films or to be involved with the production of a television series.

Emma enjoyed being on stage as a child but has become more and more interested in what goes on behind the scenes and, in particular, behind the camera.

Like Lorna, she has been interested in film since she was young through an interest in photography.

She, too, has started making short films, mainly psychological thrillers.

“That is the area I am interested in,” she said.

She added that being from a small Cumbrian village may have helped their chances of getting into the residential course.

“Lorna and I work independently,” she said.

“I only knew her previously because she was the friend of a friend. We did our application together, however.

“I think the fact that we are more isolated went in our favour.”

Lorna and Emma both took part in a regional BFI Film Academy at Signal Film and Media in Barrow during the autumn term.

Both were told they had been chosen from a large number of high quality applications.

The BFI Film Academy is for 16-19-year-olds from all over the UK, which aims to develop the next generation of Britain’s film-makers. The course takes place at the National School of Film and Television in Beaconsfield.

They will be mentored by professionals and will make a film that will be shown at an event with an audience of friends, family and industry professionals at the BFI on London’s South Bank.

Both girls will be going on to study film and television production at university later this year.