A Balham director was the toast of Edinburgh Film Festival, after his feature-length debut became one of its most popular films.

The Waiting Room, written and directed by Roger Goldby of Culverden Road and shot in Balham, received its premiere at the festival in mid August. It was then screened as one of the Best of the Fest, an accolade given to a handful of the festival's best-received films.

"We had a great response. People connected to it and connected to the characters," Mr Goldby said.

Starring Shameless actress Anne-Marie Duff and The Royle Family star Ralf Little, the film was shot last year on a budget of under £500,000 and features an array of Wandsworth landmarks including Wandsworth Common, Nightingale nursing home and Du Cane Court.

It tells the story of two young people whose chance encounter at Wandsworth Common train station makes them reassess their attitude to love and relationships.

The Waiting Room had become a protracted labour of love for Mr Goldby, who wrote the script almost ten years ago. He attempted to make it in 2000 but was forced to abandon the film when funding fell through.

"I was completely devastated but I never lost faith in the script and I never thought that it wouldn't be made," he said.

He returned to his script on the advice of friends and shot it over a five week period last October and November.

"I loved every minute of making it. It all came together and we got great help from local people," he said.

Balham Town Centre Manager Nicola Grant helped the crew set up a makeshift office at the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce. And Nightingale and Transport for London allowed the crew to film at their locations for reduced rates.

After screening at Edinburgh, The Waiting Room has won some influential fans including BBC and The Observer critic Mark Kermode.

Mr Goldby is now determined to find a distributor and get a cinema release for the film.

"We know it has got an audience so it's a matter of getting in touch with that. But I'm sure it will happen," he said.