Charity helping film makers in Africa turns 20

Elspeth Waldie founded the charity to help people tell their stories

A charity that supports film makers in Asia and Africa is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Purple Field Productions, based in Ilminster, helps people tell their stories across the world.

It gives independent filmmakers the training and resources to produce documentaries, drama and educational content in their own languages.

"You can reach lots of people through film," said Celinda Ravelo from the charity.

The charity supports film makers across Asia and Africa

In 2004, Elspeth Waldie from Ilminster was asked to make a film in Bangladesh about a young girl who was paralysed.

"She realised the power of film from that," Ms Ravelo said.

"Everyone is looking at things on their phones all the time, you no longer have to go to the cinema to watch a film," she added.

"That's the power, you can reach lots of people through film."

Peter Lansdown, a long-time volunteer at Purple Field Productions, said he went to many different countries in Africa with Ms Waldie.

"I was out there to help as a supportive friend," he said.

"We lived in the villages with the people. They were so phenomenally friendly.

"Making a film is always exciting for people who are not involved, so there was always a crowd."

He explained that most films would be based on a problem they encountered in the village they were staying in.

"It always had them at the edge of their chair, let me tell you," he added.

The charity will celebrate by having a party, where they will be showing some of their films.