A FILM festival invited actors and film makers from India to Bulgaria to the Swindon Marriot Hotel.

Old Town-based Chandra Kamini Films welcomed hundreds of actors and film producers from Europe for the night, as well as Bollywood star from India, Anil Charanjeett.

Geeta and Vishal Sharma from the company received more than 1000 submissions of films and 500 scripts for the awards.

Vishal told the Adver: “Most of the film makers already established have a platform but for an independent film maker it is a very long path to establish themselves.

“They have to show their work on the festival circuit before they can get some kind of funding.

“The idea was to mix independent film makers and some established makers we can make a recipe of success for both of them.”

Mayor of Swindon Junab Ali attended the event and brushed shoulders with some of the stars.

“I think having a start-up company like this hosting an international film festival – it’s putting Swindon on the map,” he said.

“If they can get stars from across Europe and Bollywood shows the future for it could be really great. It was like a mini-Oscars.”