FILM lovers had the choice between New York and Rhyl in the premiere of a unique documentary.

Launching the TAPE Community Music and Film's 2018 Coastline Film Festival in Old Colwyn, Rhyl film maker Nathan Penlington's homecoming allowed a packed cinema to decide his fate from among 1,566 filmed paths in his first feature Choose Your Own Documentary.

Among the possible outcomes for the film, viewer could become film directors by choosing to have London based Nathan finally deliver a love letter to a woman in Rhyl written in his youth, or visit New York to celebrate author Edward Packard, who created the literary 'choose your own adventure' genre.

Nathan, 42, said: "While I can't give anything away about what the audience chose, I'd say they were very considerate and s sensitive while still willing to take risks.

"I was surprised they did have me return to Rhyl, it's not guaranteed with audiences elsewhere in the country - it was great to bring it all back home."

The former Emrys ap Iwan and Rhyl High pupil cut his teeth in standalone performance with a start in the North Wales Magic Circle, performing at children's parties across North Wales. In the festival screening, his audience had him visit his Emrys ap Iwan English teacher Anne-Marie Soames.

Inspired by a diary - written by a 15 year old Terence Pendergast of Birmingham in 1989 - that was nestled in a successful ebay bid for 106 choose your own adventure books, each of the 1,566 filmed endings intend to make viewers choose before either personal voyages or bigger journeys.

Nathan said: " When I found the diary, which is quite heartbreaking, it really resonated with me because I identified with the concerns and vulnerabilities.

"That's why it was so good working with an organisation like TAPE, it was my first experience with them and I think the work they do helping people overcome difficulties through film made it the perfect place to screen the film."

Also having his work presented at the three day festival was Rhyl film producer MJ Macmahon, whose documentary The man from Mo' Wax follows the phenomenal journey of hip hop mogul James Lavelle.

"It was also good to prove that people from North Wales can actually make a film and have it screened for an audience."