A GWENT film-maker is celebrating after debut feature movie won a Bafta Cymru award.

Former Newport University student Keri Collins, who went to Caldicot School, won a Bafta Cymru breakthrough award for his directorial debut, Convenience- a tale about two best friends who attempt to rob a petrol station.

The film stars Bafta Award-winner and This Is England star Vicky McClure, Four Lions actor Adeel Akhtar, and Ray Panthaki from Ali G Inda House. There is also a cameo appearance from Austin Powers actor Verne Troyer.

The Pontypool-born director who is now based in Portskewett, said: "Obviously, really thrilled to win the Bafta; it was a film with a very small budget that is achieving far more than we ever thought it would."

Mr Collins, 36, who gave up a job in Newport's Passport Office to pursue his film-making dream, was mentored by Hollywood director and actor Kenneth Branagh in the Guiding Lights project.

This is the first BAFTA award Mr Collins has achieved in the ten years he has made short films, but he was also nominated for the BAFTA short film award two years ago.

Convenience is first feature film which is in the pipeline to be shown on video on demand, but Mr Collins has also made countless short films.

“I am really thrilled and a bit stunned,” the father of two said of his win.

“They said from the moment they read out you name everything is a bit of a blur!

“You never set out to win an award especially if you are in comedy as not may comedy films win awards.

“The film was a long process-we shot it in June 2012 and were in post production for two years, finishing last September, with the premier at Raindance Film Festival last October.”

The 90 minute film written by Simon Fantauzzo, tells the story of two men who try to rob a petrol station but end up pretending to work there after discovering the safe which they intended to break into is on a time lock.

Other Gwent winners included Newport’s Dafydd Hunt, who won the editing awards for 35 Diwrnod, and Richard Stoddard, of Newport, who won the award for photography and lighting for his work in Y Gwyll / Hinterland.

There were also craft award wins for Doctor Who, The Indian Doctor, which is filmed in Blaenavon, and 35 Diwrnod.