ANDREW Isherwood’s sonnet film Love’s Best Habit, featuring York Shakespeare Project members, is in the running for the Filming Shakespeare 2015 prize.

Dedicated to nurturing new film-making talent and to exploring fresh ways of translating Shakespeare’s work to the screen, the Filming Shakespeare competition is hosted by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and is in its third year.

Andrew’s work is among 12 short films shortlisted for screening at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon, on October 31 when the winning film and two runners-up will be announced.

Last year, York Shakespeare Project (YSP) was given a grant by City of York Council to stage Sonnet Walks around the city centre as part of York’s cultural activities in the lead-up to hosting the Tour de France's Grand Depart.

"The walks were very warmly received and the council agreed to YSP using some funds left over to film some of the sonnets," says chairman Maurice Crichton. "Andrew Isherwood was commissioned to make a film of Sonnet 130 (When My Love Swears That She Is Made Of Truth) and Sonnet 138 (My Mistress Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun) with actors Mick Liversidge and Bill Laverick as his cast, reprising the sonnets and characters they had developed for Sonnet Walks but in a new situation."

Andrew shot the film in the "backstage" area at Tesco's Clifton Moor store with a production team that included Matthew Holmes, camera and editing, and David Atherton, original music, and the finished work was shown at YSP’s annual general meeting last October.

"Shakespeare’s sonnets are tricky material for dramatic presentation, but as each sonnet is only 14 lines, they make an interesting challenge for a short filmmaker," says Maurice. "So we’re delighted Love’s Best Habit has caught the eye of the Filming Shakespeare judges. This will surely be a spur to Andrew and his team to push their talents further and maybe the film’s success will encourage other aspiring York filmmakers to work with YSP on a sonnet film.