Leyland's Tom Bidwell up for an Oscar for Wish 143
A film writer from Leyland described his nomination in Sunday's Oscars as "mind-bending".
Tom Bidwell is up for an Oscar in the Short Film category for Wish 143, the story of a 15-year-old cancer patient who is granted one wish before he dies.
The film is based on his personal experiences when he suffered from non-Hodgkins lymphoma as a teenager.
"It's so exciting but it's hard to get my head round," Mr Bidwell said of attending the 83rd Academy Awards.
"It's very surreal; it's very special but it's mind-bending."
Mr Bidwell, who is 27 on the day of the ceremony, is hoping he has double cause for celebration by winning in the 83rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
"It'd be a great birthday present."
He said the other four contenders will be hard to beat, though. "They're all very, very good... so it's stiff competition.
"It's just a privilege to be selected," said the former Balshaw's High School pupil.
Mr Bidwell was originally commissioned to write Wish 143 for a play on BBC Radio 4 when he was at the BBC Writers' Academy in 2008-9.
He also wrote for Doctors, Eastenders, Casaulty and Holby City while he was there.
The film, which Mr Bidwell described as "a dark comedy drama", cost £15,000 to make.