IN DECEMBER 2006 I ran a piece in the arts pages of The Westmorland Gazette's Leisure section about Jo Hutton, the originally Kendal, now Ulverston-based film-maker, who'd been flying the flag for Cumbrian film for a couple of years one way or another and had just produced a short film Call Me, created by Where the Heart Is and Waking the Dead scriptwriter Adrian Mead.

Mags Scholes directed it.

The seven-minute film's about a radio presenter whose programme is aired live through the night and based around callers ringing in to discuss their various dilemmas.

Singer-songwriter Angie Palmer gave permission for Jo to use part of a track from her Open Road album and there's also music included from Kendal's Michael Byard, who owns Byard Soundtrack Music.

Call Me was shot at Barrow's Abbey FM radio station and Jo's really excited at the prospect of putting the short on the festival circuit, especially with such high profile names attached to the project.

Cannes Film Festival is May being at the top of the list.

"We are in the last stages of post-production," explains Jo.

"And it's being edited by Geraint Huw Reynolds, who was assistant editor on Cold Mountain, Spy Game and The Hours.

"We intend to submit Call Me to most of the top festivals initially and see what happens... but we are all hoping, and to be honest expecting, the film to do well, fingers crossed.

If you remember, Jo set up Cumbria Film Network, which staged short film nights at Kendal's Mint bar.

Since Mint closed its doors last year Jo's searched for another venue.

Apparently she's found two - and she'll be letting me know when the date for the next screening event will be ready for publication in the arts pages of the March 23 edition of The Westmorland Gazette's Leisure section.