A TEENAGER is to become Brighton Fringe’s youngest feature film director after being inspired by his great-grandfather’s experience as a prisoner of war.

Elliott Hasler, 16, from Hove, is to debut feature film Charlie’s Letters at the Nightingale Room today as part of Brighton Fringe.

It is based on the real-life adventures of his great-grandfather Charlie Standing, one of the first residents of Milner Flats in Brighton, who was captured in Tunisia during the Second World War.

After being freed from an Italian POW camp as part of the Italian Armistice, Mr Standing spent 18 months trying to get home, evading Germans, living with peasants and fighting with the underground resistance while his wife and young son anxiously awaited news back in Brighton.

Elliott started making Charlie’s Letters when he was 13 and has travelled across to Europe to complete it.

He said: “I’d grown up hearing the stories about my great-grandfather and was captivated by them and just thought it would make a brilliant film.

“It had everything; action, drama, romance and it’s a true story.

“Unfortunately my great-grandfather died a year before I was born but I think the film does him justice.

“I hope that he’d enjoy it and feel a sense of pride to see the extraordinary sacrifices that he made during the war up on the big screen.

“It’s a true story which captures the essence of the city.

“We filmed a lot in and around Brighton with iconic locations such as the bandstand and Madeira Drive playing a prominent role.

“More importantly, the film tells the story of a true hero, a man who gave so much so we can live peaceful and happy lives, and stories like this need to be seen.”

After Brighton Fringe, Charlie’s Letters will be screened at Edinburgh Fringe where again Elliott will be the youngest feature film director to show work at the festival.

In September Elliott has been invited to show the film at Dieppe Film Festival where he has been made a judge of honour.

He said: “I got into making films when I was 10, at my school, St Andrew’s in Hove.

“They did a week where there were no lessons and instead everyone just made a film and it was from there that I caught the bug.

“It’s fantastic to be the youngest film director at Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe.

“Being part of Brighton Fringe is amazing as it’s my home town and it’s been great to be part of the festival, then Edinburgh is really the icing on the cake.”

Charlie’s Letters is at the Nightingale Room, Surrey Street, Brighton, today, Sunday, Tuesday and May 30.