EXETER Picture house will play host to a magical and mysterious premiere on March 28.

And the group behind the film, the Chagford Filmmaking Group,  hope it heralds the start of a fairytale-based Hollywood on Dartmoor.

Peerifool — a 40-minute film based on an Orkney fairytale — receives its first showing at the Exeter cinema and tells the thrilling story of three little girls who outwit an ogre.

It has been produced by the Chagford Group, led by Elizabeth-Jane Baldry and including such luminaries as Oscar-winning designer Alan Lee of the Lord of the Rings Films and movie designers Wendy and Brian Froud (Star Wars, Labyrinth, the Dark Crystal)  among their supporters and members.

Elizabeth-Jane, who is a concert harpist and composer, began the group as a reaction to the lack of British fairy tales portrayed on screen.

She has produced a number of films, obtaining funding from various groups, and is just embarking on the group's biggest film to date — Sir Lanval — which has been funded by the EU in collaboration with Le Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien and will be filmed on Dartmoor and in Brittany in May.

Elizabeth-Jane said Peerifool is a traditional story which people of all ages will love. The Chagford Filmmaking Group felt they were protecting the country's heritage for future generations.

She said: 'I think it's amazing these stories aren't better known.

'These stories of resourceful little girls have been part of our cultural heritage for generations and we have had a ball putting them on the screen at long last.

'It's great that we can now show the world this lovely film which has been planned, produced and edited in Devon. We are so proud that its world premiere will be in Exeter so near to where we live and work. This is one our county can be very proud of.'

The premiere will be at the Picturehouse on Sunday March 28 at noon. Tickets are £6 adults/£5 children and are available from Chagford Newsagents and the Chagford Filmmaking Group's website: http://www.fairytalefilms.co.uk">www.fairytalefilms.co.uk