TALENTED young actors Annie Cusselle and Sam Rees are to watch their Oscar-winning film on the silver screen in Knutsford on Thursday.

Annie, from Holmes Chapel, and Sam, from Knutsford, play a brother and sister in a film short which centres on a profoundly deaf girl taught the gift of communication by a caring social worker.

The Silent Child was named best live action short at the Oscars, and is to be shown at The Curzon in Knutsford this week.

Annie, 17, who attends The Grange School in Hartford, got up at 6am this morning to watch a recording of the Oscars, and said she was still ‘buzzing’ with excitement after seeing the film win the coveted award.

“I thought the film was an amazing concept, but some of the other films it was up against in the category were equally amazing,” she said.

“I watched the ceremony with my parents and brother, and we were all ecstatic when the film won – I’m still buzzing.

“My parents were delighted for me and were jumping around. At the ceremony they showed snippets from the film, including a family scene which included Sam and I.

“I’m going to meet up with Sam at the Curzon on Thursday when I go to see the film with my parents and friends.

“We play the brother and sister of a little girl who is profoundly deaf in real life, and the film is about how a social worker helps her to develop skills as well as seeking to raise deaf awareness.”

The film’s writer, Rachel Shenton, who plays the social worker, was inspired to write the film by her father, who went profoundly deaf after undergoing cancer treatment when she was 12.

Sam, 17, attends Knutsford Academy, and he and Annie attend the Actor Tribe acting school, which put them forward for an audition for the 20-minute film.

“I stayed up to watch the Oscars, and when it came to our category my heart was pounding as I really wanted the film to win,” said Sam.

“When they said it had won I was gobsmacked – my mum and were watching with me, and mum started running around the living room.

“It still seems unreal to have won, and being part of the film has been the best experience of my life.”

The Curzon is showing The Silent Child and the other short film nominees this Thursday from 6.30pm.