Celebrities usually flock to Leicester Square for swanky film premieres but last night they set their sights on Brighton Marina.

The red carpet was rolled out as big names including actors Richard E Grant and Samantha Janus, The Fast Show's, Mark Williams, comedian Steve Coogan and Kevin Rowland, former lead singer of Dexys Midnight Runners, arrived for the screening of much-hyped British film New Year's Day.

The film was written by Brighton-based actor Ralph Brown who is best known for his performances in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Alien 3, Withnail and I and the TV series Lock, Stock.

It stars Sue Johnston from The Royle Family, Jacqueline Bisset, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and a cast of up-and-coming young actors including Bobby Barry, from Brighton.

Bobby won a leading role in the film after auditioning at Varndean College. He said: "I was bored one lunchtime and some friends told me they were going to a film audition. I had nothing better to do so I went along and ended up getting the part."

The film tells the story of two boys who take charge of their own destinies after their friends are killed by an avalanche on a school ski-ing trip.

Setting themselves 12 tasks, from robbing a bank to killing a large animal, the boys attempt to make sense of life, death, family and friendship.

Director Suri Krishnamma said: "I wanted to make a film about pain and dealing with grief, about bereavement and the loss of innocence, about nihilism and anarchy, about characters who seek to take revenge on fate."

Mr Brown said: "It has taken six years to get this film into cinemas.

"I'm just glad we finally made it."

The exclusive screening was in aid of Centrepoint, a charity which houses young people at risk and has centres across the country including Hove.

New Year's Day opens at the UGC cinema on November 2.