Young West Midland film-makers are set to benefit from funding to produce their own short films with the help of industry professionals.

Thanks to their creative ideas, around 20 youngsters aged between 16 and 19 have been awarded a total of £25,000 to work on two films in a scheme co-ordinated by Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.

Their films will consider the influences and techniques adopted by Andy Warhol in a project that will coincide with an exhibition taking place at the gallery. The scheme is made possible by First Light Movies, a Birmingham-based organisation which helps young people make their own films.

The group distributes £1.1 million of National Lottery money through UK Film Council funding every year. The youngsters will be at the heart of the creative process, generating ideas and then taking part in every aspect of the production process.

Working alongside film-making professionals, they will get involved in drawing storyboards, writing scripts and directing and lighting the films.

First Light Movies chief executive Pip Eldridge was impressed by the quality of the latest film ideas. She said: “Young people continually surpass our expectations by generating wonderfully creative film ideas and stories.

“This year, in particular I’ve been thrilled with the quality of the submissions, especially from youngsters in the West Midlands. We’ve had ideas from children as young as five covering a wide variety of genres, cultures and topics.”

UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward said: “We are really proud to be able to give young people from the West Midlands the opportunity to make their own films through First Light Movies.”

The films, all made using low-cost digital equipment, will also have the chance to be nominated at next year’s First Light Movies Awards.