A County Durham filmmaker who has already had a highly successful year is celebrating after winning another award.

Horror short The Devil's Stone, written and dirrected by Willington's Dean Midas, has won the Audience Choice at the Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions Awards.

The film, made using mobile phones, local venues and actors on a minimal budget, has already secured 25,000 views just eight weeks after release. It was filmed in County Durham and is based on a legend surrounding the real Devil's Stone, a feature in Crook town cntre

Mr Midas said: "This has been a life-changing year. I have already been named as North-East film director of the year and now this.

The Northern Echo: County Durham filmmaker Dean Midas is ending the year on a high, with another award for The Devil's StoneCounty Durham filmmaker Dean Midas is ending the year on a high, with another award for The Devil's Stone (Image: DEAN MIDAS)

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"This win is for the whole team and sets us up for an exciting 2024."

Lift-Off's HQ, is at the famous Pinewood Studios. General manager Natalie Daniels, praised Mr Midas, saying: "The jury has returned their verdict, and I’m thrilled to tell you that you are one of the filmmakers who has received an Audience Choice Award. Congratulations."

Mr plans on continuing his filmmaking success with two new projects in the pipeline for 2024 - The Devil's Stone 2 and a new Eve Valentine movie.