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Thomas Hardye students are celebrating winning a mini-Oscar for their film 23 Pieces.

A panel of judges including Kate Winslet and Minnie Driver gave the students the Best Screenplay award for their film.

Filmmakers Charlotte Coombes, Michael Kelley, Tim Mallon, Joe Sohawon and Jessica Tallant were delighted to win the prize.

Charlotte is already planning her next project – a documentary set in Kenya funded by none other than Lord Puttnam. The legendary filmmaker chatted to Charlotte at the celebratory Downing Street reception and was keen to support her.

A scene from 23 Pieces

“When I think about making films it gives me butterflies. I don’t get that off anything else. I have a complete and utter desire to make films and show people things from my imagination,” explains Charlotte.

23 Pieces was made with Bridport-based PVA MediaLab. The film follows a teenager's search for his father's identity using clues from his DNA.

The students did everything themselves – from scripting the story to shooting and editing the short film. They sent off their scripts to scientific institutes, and received advice from top scientists, including those involved with the human genome project.

Much of the film was shot in and around Dorchester last winter. Charlotte says it’s proven to her that “although people think film is glamorous, it rarely is.”

But it hasn’t stopped her ambitions. If anything, it’s fuelled them further.