IN the stark beauty of 19th Century Snowdonia young girl Gwen tries desperately to hold her home together.

Struggling with her mother’s mysterious illness, her father’s absence and a ruthless mining company encroaching on their land, a growing darkness takes a grip of her home and a suspicious community turns on Gwen and her family.

Filmed around Bangor, Caernarfon, Bethesda, amid the atmospheric, remote quarry and farmlands of Snowdonia, Gwen is a bewitchingly, gripping gothic tale.

It opens in UK cinemas from July 19, but, Bangor audiences will get a special preview screening with a Q&A session, with director William McGregor and cast members at 7pm, on Wednesday, July 10.

The film stars BAFTA nominated actress Maxine Peake, who plays Gwen's mother Elen, Eleanor Worthington-Cox is Gwen, and her sister Mari, is played by Anglesey newcomer Jodie Nicole Innes.

It also stars Richard Harrington, who plays Edward Morris, Mark Lewis Jones, from Wrexham, Mr Wynne, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, is Dr Wren.

Jodie, who is eight, and a pupil at Ysgol Corn Hir, Llangefni, was only six during the filming.

She was encouraged to audition for the role by 18-year-old sister Yasmin, who heard about the casting call whilst studying performing arts at Bangor University. Yasmin, the girls' dad Michael, and Grandad Stuart Innes, also got involved as extras.

Michael, who is a firefighter at RAF Valley, said he was "absolutely made up," and "extremely proud" of his little girl's performance.

"She was amazing, she took to acting like a natural. I couldn't be prouder," said Michael.

"Jodie said to me: "Dad, y'know, I think I'll give it a go, acting," but we never thought how it would turn out.

"She'd been in the school show, but never done anything like this before.

"She had to work hard learning her lines, and the whole family pitched in to help."

During the six week's of filming Jodie had a tutor, so she could keep up with her school work.

Michael added: "The film is quite scary at times. It's no Disney tale, but the crew and cast were all fantastic and made it such a fun experience.

"Maxine was wonderful, what you see is what you get with her, she is lovely, kind and very genuine.

"She explained to Jodie about acting, and said she shouldn't be scared if there was shouting or in the darker moments of the story, there were lots of laughs off camera."

Jodie said: "It was really fun being in a film!

"The best thing was I got to meet lots of people, and it was very exciting.

"I loved acting. I think my friends were a bit jealous, but they can't wait to see the film!"

Director William McGregor's TV work includes Misfits, Poldark, One of Us.

He said: "It was fascinating to explore how the sublime and eerie quality of the Snowdonian landscape feeds into the psychology of our young protagonist.

"I remember how, as a child, even the sound of the wind or a lost animal outside on a dark night could spark my imagination and fear.

"I wanted to explore that childish ability to see monsters in the dark, scaring ourselves with something that doesn't physically exist."

The director described the then six year-old Jodie, as “being a little trouper." She was "all grins" between takes, helping everyone to pull together.

“You have to earn the right to direct your cast. It’s important that you have a relationship with them.

"With Eleanor and Jodie, we went rock climbing just so we could be relaxed around each other, and only then did we do historical research and character background and look at the details that would inform their characters.”

Filmgoers should look out for familiar locations used in the film.

They include: the Farm – Tal Braich, Rhosgadfan, Caernarfon, Griffith’s House – Waterfall Farm, Blaen Nant, Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, Bangor, Mine / Doctor’s Office – National Slat, Museum, Llanberis, Caernarfon, Slate Quarry – Tryfan Slate Quarry, Caernarfon, Market Town / Church / Woodland – Faenol Estate, Bangor, The Rock – Pen-y-Pass, Llanberis, Caernaon.

Pontio tickets for the preview screening which is in partnership with Bafta Cymru, and a question and answer session (15) are available at:https://tickets.pontio.co.uk/Online/default.asp