A NEW film produced by a Blackburn man's company is being tipped for global success after taking Cannes by storm.

Shooting Fish, a quirky comedy starring Kate Beckinsale, was recently shown at the prestigious film festival where moviegoers were literally fighting to get in to see it.

It was made with the help of £1 million Lottery money by Winchester Films, whose chief executive is one-time accountant and bakery owner Gary Smith.

Gary, 40, said: "On the second screening we had to hire security guards because there were so many people wanting to get in. It was a bit disconcerting because it's a feel-good, comedy film!"

The interest in the film was such that Fox Searchlight Pictures have signed to screen it in America. It will also be shown throughout Europe. Now Gary, whose parents Ray and Sylvia live in Ramsgreave Drive, is hoping that Shooting Fish can imitate the international success of Four Weddings And A Funeral - the most successful ever British film.

Gary added: "There's no violence, swearing or drugs in the film. People will come away from it feeling a lot better than when they went in. I believe it could be a big success."

The film is the fifth to be made by the company since Gary set up Winchester Multimedia plc four years ago to encompass films, music and television.

Based in Soho, the 14-strong company is also about to produce three more movies: a romantic comedy called The Sea Change starring ex-Bond Girl Maryam D'Abo; Raving Beauties, starring Steve Coogan, and An Inch Over The Horizon, starring Bob Hoskins.

After training as an accountant, Gary bought out the former Kenyon's Bakery in Blackburn before selling it and getting involved with a group which owned the rights to children's animation favourites. including The Wombles and Paddington.

An ex-pupil of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Gary is a huge Blackburn Rovers fan and even gave the name Ewood Lodge to the house in Birmingham where he lives with wife Samantha and son Adam.

He added: "We are very proud that Shooting Fish is the first Lottery-funded film which will fully recoup its investment for the Arts Council."

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