AN ANIMATOR with learning disabilities is in the running for a top award at an international film festival.

Matthew Eggert, 29, of Woburn Avenue in Theydon Bois, is one of the nominees for the Bursary Prize at the 2009 Oska Bright festival for his film 'SOS - Save Our Sheep'.

The budding film-maker is no stranger to success at the festival, having won Best Film Under One Minute in 2004 for his film 'Tree Whizz and the Apple Attack' and again in 2005 for 'Beside the Seaside'.

Matthew's mum Sue said: “Matthew builds up all kinds of ideas from what he sees around him. He watches a lot of cartoons and listen to a lot of audio books. He's also got lots of art books and we often go to the cinema together, as well as art galleries and museums.

“Matthew has a lightbox which his grandfather made for him, which he uses to actually animate his still images. But it's a terrible time-consuming process, it's not the sort of thing you can just do in five minutes, it takes months and months to make each film.

“The festival is a great outlet for people with learning difficulties and it gives them a positive outlook. It focusses on what they can do rather than on what they can't, which is great.”

Winning the first two awards secured Matthew training with Oska Bright to develop his skills and another win would enable to spend even more time honing his craft.

Matthew's passion for animation began to develop when he took cartooning classes at his former school, Oak Hill in Loughton. His talent was spotted by his tutor Dave Stovell, who encouraged him to make his first animated film.

Oska Bright is a unique festival as it is run by and for film-makers with learning difficulties. It draws entrants from across the UK and from as far afield as Canada, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Belgium.

This year's festival will take place in Brighton in November. For more information visit www.oskabright.co.uk or call 01273 234 734.