A PAIR of Swindon filmmakers are set to launch a funding campaign to help take their debut film to international festivals.

Alex Secker and Marcus Starr finished filming Follow the Crows in May and have since been busy adding the finishing touches.

Now the filmmakers are looking to raise money to take the movie further in the hope of finding a distributor.

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the film tells the story of a small group of a survivors who wander the world searching for purpose.

It stars local actors Max Curtis and Daniella Faircloth, as well as a host of local people in supporting roles. It is the first independent feature film to be shot in Swindon.

Writer and director Alex, 27, who lives in the Marlborough Park area, said: “I’ve been making shorts for years but I’ve never really been that successful in having festivals accept them.

“It’s very competitive. The advent of digital cameras means that almost anyone can make a short film and enter it into a festival, and it’s harder to get your work seen.

“But there’s a smaller market for independent features. A lot of effort goes into even just getting the people available, let along then making the thing. I think we stand a better chance, and the movie is really good.”

The film was shot in and around the Wiltshire area, using locally sourced actors and crew, from November of last year through to May.

Alex created the story with Marcus Starr, who, as well as producing, also appears in the movie.

Inspired by the rural surroundings of the town, Alex said: “We couldn’t figure out why no one was using Wiltshire to make movies. We’ve got some amazing scenery around here – sprawling landscapes and places that appear virtually untouched.

“So we figured we might as well do it ourselves. We found out on the first day why no one else makes films here. There are a lot of planes around.”

“It’s been a year of my life and now we’re coming to the end. It’s bizarre to think that in a few months it’ll all be over.”

If you want to find out more or donate to the project log on to www.facebook.com/followthecrowsmovie.