IT started as a conversation on a long train journey.

Now the sixth Long Shot Film Festival will take place on Saturday, showcasing nine short films with a Warrington connection.

It is the brainchild of 49-year-old Tony Fennell and Myles Winstone, aged 49.

The pair met filming the Orford Soap, a community soap opera filming project run by Warrington Borough Council with five episodes screened online over a week.

Tony, of Bath Street, was the cameraman and editor for the project and Myles, from Thelwall, originally Orford, an actor.

While on a long train journey they decided to start Long Shot, based on the belief that you should not have to go to Manchester, Liverpool or further afield to find an audience for your artistic talents.

Co-organiser Tony said, “We call Long Shot a showcase because it's about showing off the full range of film-making talent in the town.

"From students and amateurs picking up their first camera, or more likely these days their mobile phone, through to people with more experience in the creative arts who want to inspire a local audience to start making their own films.”

This year's event takes place on Saturday, with doors open at 6pm, as part of the Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival which runs throughout October.

It gives filmmakers the chance to feel the buzz of watching an audience react to seeing their film.

“This is our sixth festival and once it's over we'll have shown more than 50 short films all with a Warrington connection. Which I think demonstrates how much local talent there is in the town.” added Myles, “This year has some of the most professional looking shorts we've ever shown.

"Films that, certainly production-wise, wouldn't be out of place coming from ‘proper’ studios.”

The 9 films being shown this year are:

How I Won The War by Chloe Hendrickson

On reserve: Hazel by Kevin Crooks

Icehouse Project by Mark Callum and Darren Lanlangs

No More Tomorrows by Mark Renshaw

The Key of Life by Peter Mottram

Empty Space by Phillip Coleman

Impossible is Nothing by Shannon Walsh

The Flower girl by Will Walters

There's a wide variety of genres on display, including stop-motion animation, horror, drama and documentary.

Several entries are from returning entrants, including the 2011 Audience Award winner Mark Callum.

Seeing old entrants coming back with new films pleases both organisers.

“It's great to see film-makers continuing to support Long Shot with their films and it shows how much they enjoy the festival and seeing their short films played to a live audience.” said Myles.

Tickets for Long Shot 2015 are available from the Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival website warringtonartsfestival.co.uk, or from The Pyramid.