A CLYDEBANK director’s risk-taking has paid off after his feature film made the cut for the Glasgow Film Festival.

Much of Douglas King’s Super November is set in his hometown, telling the tale of a local librarian’s bittersweet romance in the wider context of an ever-changing political environment. 

The lead role is played by London-based actress Josie Long, and the production was completed on a small budget. 

But that didn’t stop bosses at the festival including it in their line-up, with its March 3 premiere selling out in just 20 minutes.

Clydebank Library, Solidarity Plaza and the business park all appear in the film, and for Douglas, 32, it was important to set the story in the town he holds close to his heart. 

He told the Post: “There’s a lot of Clydebank in it. There’s actually more Clydebank in it than I thought there was. 

“The library is an important part of the film. It features loads. We were wanting Josie’s character to be a librarian. 

“Clydebank Library is a brilliant location. I would have stuck with the same location if I had loads of money. Growing up in Clydebank I have always liked that library. I spent a lot of time there as a kid.”

Having his work recognised by the film festival “delighted” Douglas – though he conceded the whole project had been a bit of a gamble. 

“We made the film on no money and were ambitious, taking risks,” he said. “It was a rough cut and I didn’t know what to expect. 

“You could see them rejecting it but I was delighted they actually took it. It was an unfinished cut they saw. 

“They said it was the characters in the film that were really compelling. There’s an underlying humour in the film. 

“The first half is quite light and it’s a bit tongue in cheek with election stuff happening in the background. Then it takes a big turn halfway through.”

Douglas has been making films with close friend Darren Osborne, who acts in the film, since the pair were in high school together. 

It’s not the first time they’ve worked on projects in Clydebank either, having put together remakes of classics such as Back to the Future and Ghostbusters with youngsters at Y Sort It.

Super November itself was, according to Douglas, “born out of frustration” after he had come painfully close to being awarded funding for a short film. 

He added: “We were so close to getting funding and it felt through. So, I said to Josie (Long) ‘let’s get back to our DIY roots’.

“We just started writing this feature and shot it in parts. It was an absolute buzz taking this film on. It was great working with a team of all friends and family. It’s exhausting but you have that amazing nervous energy. You’re addicted to this nervous energy.” 

Work on the film started in January 2016 and now the final cut is just weeks away from completion.