A NEWPORT film-maker is to pick up an award at a top American film festival.

Tyrone Murphy fought off stiff competition to win 'best international documentary' at the prestigious Lake Arrowhead film festival in California. His company, Classic Media Entertainment, made a documentary about the Hollywood Graffiti Gown project, a 25-year endeavour to raise awareness of AIDS and money for AIDS charities.

To date more than 450 of the world's most influential and glamorous women have donated their signatures to be hand-beaded on to a striking black velvet floor-length couture gown.

Women who contributed signatures include Katharine Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Sharon Stone, Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Sophia Loren and Mother Teresa.

Mr Murphy, of St Julians, Newport, appeared as an extra in The Bill, EastEnders and Casualty before deciding to work behind the camera. He was in Hollywood in 2004 when he met the gown project founders.

Mr Murphy spent three weeks filming in Hollywood in March 2004. The film features footage of the making of the gown and its unveiling plus interviews with some celebrities who supported the project.

Mr Murphy said: "It was a very stressful shoot because of financial pressures, but we were really pleased with the finished product."

The budget for the 56-minute film was £60,000, a relatively large sum for a Hollywood documentary.

It was directed by Annelie Wilder and Tim Silano, whose combined credits include Apollo 13, Mrs Doubtfire, Home Alone and IceMaker. It was edited by Crash in Coverack Road, Newport.

The documentary is set to be premiered at the Lake Arrowhead festival next month, where Mr Murphy and his team will pick up their award.