Forget about Jonathan Ross, one of Gillingham’s film buffs has beaten off stiff competition to be in with a chance of judging a national short film award alongside Oscar-winning stage and film actor, Kevin Spacey.

Local film enthusiast Gwen Cremona has reached the finals of the contest, which offered Virgin Media customers the chance to judge entries of the company’s short film competition, Virgin Media Shorts.

Gwen, from Queensdown Avenue has been short-listed from hundreds of customers and wowed the judges with her enthusiasm of film.

Virgin Media Shorts aims to champion undiscovered film talent and will offer one lucky film maker the chance of winning up to £30,000 and work with Virgin Media and the UK Film Council to make their next short film.

Entries have flooded in to the exciting new competition and the 12 short-listed talented film makers will be announced shortly.

Gwen will now attend a casting day in London on Saturday, August 9 to pitch her blockbuster judging skills against five other customers for the chance to win the last seat on the judging panel.

Gwen said: “I am thrilled to be through to the final six customer judges.

"Giving an everyday film enthusiast a chance to play a real role on the judging panel of Virgin Media Shorts competition is a great idea and I’m excited about potentially swapping thoughts with my fellow eminent judges.”

If lucky, Gwen will join Kevin Spacey on the judging panel alongside Virgin Group boss Sir Richard Branson, British film director, Gurinder Chadha and Green Wing actor, Stephen Mangan.

Other judges include the Oscar-nominated short-film director, Daniel Barber, film critic, James King and Lenny Crooks, head of the New Cinema Fund.

The winner will be announced on August 15 and will also attend a star-studded awards ceremony on September 29 in central London.