Forget the Oscars, Colchester is to award its Boudicca trophies.

The final of Colchester Film Awards will be held on Tuesday May 16, featuring six category winners who will battle it out for two top prizes.

The event is free to enter and the public can watch these and other films.

An independent panel of three judges will pick the top film and top film makers on the night.

Colchester Film Makers publicity officer Paul Desmond called the event “the equivalent of the Oscars.”

The films tend to be short- just 5-10 minutes- as “less is more.”

This was the first time the awards would be held at Firstsite in the club’s 50 year history. The club has 35 members and some have won international awards for their short movies.

One award winner is Ransom Note, made by club member and film director Hen Jachimczyk. It involves a love triangle and the kidnapping of a family pet.

Another film to be shown that night will be about a visit to Saffron Waldon and its Quaker heritage.

Paul, who is also an award-winning film maker, said: “We are a very committed group of film makers.”

The annual End of Season Showcase film starts at 7.30pm. Contact Firstsite for details and bookings.