A FILM director from Colchester missed out on an international award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Toby Roberts’s short film, Spoilt Broth, was up for the acclaimed Today Award.

The project was one of five given 30,000 Euros by the German equivalent of the UK Film Council.

Spoilt Broth is a comedy about a young man who is so desperate, he decides to rob a bank, but it goes wrong.

It was originally due to be shot in Wivenhoe, but the financiers insisted it be moved to Berlin where it was shot in September.

Mr Roberts, 41, teamed up with a Berlin-based production company and British actor Gary Whelan, from Michael Collins and Moll Flanders, and German actor Oliver Korittke took the leads.

Highly-acclaimed director of photography Derek Suter completed the experienced cast and crew list.

Mr Roberts said: “I’ve already won, just by having the experience of making the film with such fabulous people.

“After the first day’s shoot I was asked how I felt. I told him I was so happy, I could’ve cried.

“The next day, after actress Megan Gay finished a take, she looked at me and said, ‘How was that?’ I smiled, ‘It gave me goosebumps’.

“The whole camera crew pulled out tissues and pretended to cry.

“That was the level of humour and camaraderie we created throughout the shoot. We came in on time and on budget, no pressure, no anxiety, a smooth and fun ride, all in it together.”

Mr Roberts is now working on an American road movie called Four For the Border.

Previously, he has directed documentaries, live concerts, commercials and pop promos.

His work has appeared at 78 film festivals in nine countries and won seven awards, although none as prestigious as the Berlin film festival’s Today Award.