A BUDDING filmmaker from Dunfermline is wishing for a present from the SSE Hydro after making the final of a national short film competition.

Sean Defrancesco has impressed judges with his entry in a film project celebrating the venue’s fifth birthday.

Sean has made the final cut of five hopefuls looking to win film-making equipment worth £4,000 for his video, Happy Birthday Hydro, which will also be shown live at the 13,000-capacity Glasgow arena should he win.

He told the Press: “I wanted to create something that would resonate with as many different age groups and people as possible. To achieve that, I used a wide set of characters of various ages and in a comedic, traditional Scottish fashion.

“The Hydro is a special building and an incredible venue, and it is those things because it’s for Scotland.

“Since the Hydro arrived, bands have become less likely to side-step Scotland.

“Many music fans had found themselves in the position where their favourite band were going on tour but they never played Scotland. I thought that was alleviated by the Hydro.

“I met with people at the venue after I was shortlisted and they gave me a tour of the backstage and VIP areas.

“I was shown the stage door which every act that plays the Hydro walks through. They have this giant clock hanging above and it says, ‘time to meet the best fans in the world’.

"I thought that was very poignant and I strongly believe that’s true. What makes the Hydro great more than anything else? The people that go there.

"My film was a celebration of that.”

After submitting his idea pitch in May, he received word that he had made the final and after meetings with the indoor arena, he was given a budget to make his entry.

He wrote the script, made his casting choices and arranged locations for filming during an intense August that he states was, “one of the busiest months of my life”.

The winner will now be decided by a public vote, and he stressed how much he would appreciate public support.

"I need everyone reading this to vote! I can’t put into words what it would mean to me to win.

“I’m trying to start my own business making videos, so not only would the equipment obviously be a massive help, but winning would really be an honour.

“The social media response has been amazing and I’ve been so humbled by it.”

You can watch and vote for Sean’s entry online at: https://www.thessehydro.com/filmproject

The winner will be announced on Friday, September 28, as voting comes to an end.