The only British film up for honours at the Cannes Film Festival was written by a 25 year-old graduate from Clapham.

Writer-producer Jo Tucker created the 11 minute stop-motion animation For the Love of God with pal Raphael Warner, who wrote and produced the short film.

The pair recently graduated from the UK's National Film and Television School and are up against 15 other entrants in the Cinefondation competition for short films by students.

The film, which cost £8,000 to make, features high-calibre voice talent including Sir Ian McKellen, Steve Coogan and Julia Davis.

For the Love of God follows Graham, a man driven to pursue an unholy sexual fantasy by a life spent working in the Christian bookshop of his domineering mother.

The story idea was sparked by tabloid reports of celebrity sex videos, which prompted Tucker to imagine the discovery of one involving the Almighty.

Since graduating this year, Tucker has been earning a living by making music videos but has ambition is to become a feature film maker.

The National Film and Television School sent all its graduates' films for entry into the Cannes competition - and For the Love of God was the only British film selected.

The competition winner will be announced tomorrow.