OXFORDSHIRE film director Vicky Jewson has made the shortlist for a top award celebrating trailblazing women.

Miss Jewson, 21, who is directing a modern-day re-interpretation of Lady Godiva, is in the final six in her category for the Women of the Future Awards, which recognise women under 35 who are high-achievers and role models.

She is up against fashion designers, artists and journalists, all competing to become Arts, Media and Culture Woman of the Future 2006.

Miss Jewson said: "I am delighted to get this far. It is great to receive such recognition and I hope it will help me secure further support for Lady Godiva and to focus the spotlight on Oxford as a great place to make films.

"They seem to have some very influential people on the board and it is good to meet people from similar backgrounds.

"I know someone from Lloyd's Bank is going to be there, so I'll definitely be chatting to them.

"You read about these sorts of awards when you are starting out, so it is really great to be recognised."

The former pupil of Wychwood School in North Oxford celebrated her 21st birthday last week with a screening of the rough cut of Lady Godivaat the Phoenix Picture House in Jericho, in front of an audience of cast, crew and investors.

She has raised about £700,000 and is looking for a further £150,000 to help with production costs including shooting an opening sequence using a major star in Carcassonne, southern France.

The film is currently being edited at a converted blacksmiths forge near Radley.

Miss Jewson added: "It is nice seeing it put together with the music because I wrote the script with the soundtrack in mind.

"The screening went really well, people in the audience were laughing and crying which was great."

Filming of the opening scene in the South of France is due to be shot in the next few weeks and Miss Jewson said that although James Bond actress Denise Richards has had to pull out of the film, she is still confident of lining up a big name star for the role.

She added: "That will give the story a real edge and grittiness and I'm hoping to get someone big signed up for that over the next couple of weeks.

"I won't let on who I'm going for because that seems to be have been the kiss of death in the past."

She is however very optimistic that pop band McFly will write and perform the signature song for the film.

Once the final sequence is shot Miss Jewson has 12 weeks of sound editing to do at Elstree Studios in London.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 9.