A FILM society is celebrating after winning a trio of accolades at an awards ceremony.

Leigh Film Society saw off competition from 2,000 other entries to be named Film Society of the Year at the Cinema For All Awards in Sheffield.

It also scooped the Best Community Cinema and Best Film Discovery gongs.

Chairman Paul Costello added: “To win three national awards is beyond our expectations as the competition was so strong."

Leigh Film Society also received a distinction in the Best Single Event category for its screening of Monty Python's Life of Brian at St Mary the Virgin Church in Leigh and a commendation in the Best Marketing and Publicity category.

Judges praised the society's engagement with the community and its dementia-friendly classic cinema clubs in Leigh and Tyldesley and development director Elizabeth Costello was shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual gong.

She said: "I could not be prouder of our achievements this year, taking us above and beyond our expectations.

"It was very emotional at the awards night and we were astonished at the scale of our success.

"We will continue to deliver great screening events and keep true to our ethos and community spirit."

All the awards were presented by British Film Institute (BFI) curator and journalist Danny Leigh.

Cinema For All chief executive Deborah Parker said: "Leigh's community cinema is fantastic and it is helping to bring incredible cinema into people’s lives.

"The society has stood loud and proud and made sure its great organisation is known.

"It has approached the film season with confidence, skill and enthusiasm, and as a result has created some of farthest reaching, deeply impactful events the judges have seen.

"Through it all it has shown such resilience and humour, important qualities for the Film Society of the Year."

Highlights of the year for Leigh Film Society include being nominated for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, screening Disney's Moana at the swimming pool at The Pelican Centre in Tyldesley and award-winning actor Christopher Eccleston agreeing to be its patron.

The society has been running since 2013 and is planning to work with True Colours CIC on autism-friendly screenings next year and help armed forces veterans and their families through a tie-in with the Shoulder to Soldier charity.

For more information about the society visit leighfilmsociety.com.