Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar-winning success is the fulfilment of a childhood dream for its Northern Irish executive producer.

For Belfast man Paul Smith exclusively revealed to Sunday Life that it was in a small east Belfast church hall where he first dreamt of Academy Award glory.

The 62-year-old boss of Celador Films celebrated the extraordinary success of Slumdog Millionaire — in front of Hollywood’s A-list of movie stars, such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

But no-one knew at the Kodak Theatre that it was in St Finnian’s Church Of Ireland hall in Cregagh where the movie-loving teenager took his first steps towards Hollywood fame and fortune.

Paul says: “There were two elements to it. A group of us, including a mate of mine Philip Hobson, actually made some 8mm films. But I was always strictly behind camera.Then we had a film society in the church for about 18 months showing movies such as The Wizard Of Oz and Rear Window every Friday night.”

Paul, who formed the hugely successful Celador independent production company in 1983, thinks that the seeds for his entertainment business acumen were first planted at the Rochester Avenue church.

“I think that was me, exercising my entrepreneurial skills at an early age, as I came as close as I dared to running a commercial cinema there,” he laughs.

Paul, whose Celador Films company provided £7m of Slumdog Millionaire’s £8.5m budget, feels that St Finnian’s helped to make his 2009 Oscar dream come true.

“St Finnian’s is probably where this all started,” he says. “Of course I dreamed about winning an Oscar back then because they are the ultimate success, in terms of the |ultimate acknowledgment of a movie.

“I have to say that it was a surreal experience when it actually happened. But it was also a wonderful experience.”

The ‘Inst’-educated man revealed Slumdog Millionaire moved him to tears when he saw it for the first time last year. “When I read it first, I just knew that it was a great screenplay,” he says. “Even from the first draft you could see the potential.

“When I saw the completed film I did more than get goosebumps. I actually burst into tears at the end.

“What Danny Boyle (the director)and Simon Beaufoy (the writer) created is simply wonderful.”

Back to work at his desk in London’s West End just days after Slumdog’s haul of eight Oscars, Paul pledged that he is “definitely going to take things a little bit easier now”.

However, even though he sold off the TV side of his business, including the rights of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? show two years ago, Paul’s creative drive is now being channelled into the movie and radio worlds.

And he also revealed he would “love to do a West End show”. Paul told us: “I am quite focussed and passionate.

“I really enjoy the process of creation. I like a challenge. I like to get up in the morning and know that there is something that will challenge me to the point where I have got to keep alert and aware.

“The last thing I want to do is to lead a soporific life. Even if I had the capacity to do so, I wouldn’t want to.” Paul’s extraordinary |career has included the creation of the long running TV ‘bloopers’ show, It’ll Be Alright On The Night.

And he admits to being “greatly proud” of the TV phenomenon he co-created, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? — as well as collaborations with comedian and business partner Jasper Carrott and hypnotist Paul McKenna.

But the things this multi-millionaire is proudest of are his family and his Northern Ireland roots.

“When it all comes down to it, the most important thing in my life is my wife and family,” he says.

“I have a daughter Lucy and a son Sam and my wife is called Sarah. They are the ones who matter to me most of all and bring the most pleasure in my life.”

Paul adds: “Everybody who knows me knows that I have a great pride in my Northern Ireland heritage. I love Northern Ireland. It plays a very important part in my life.”

For Paul will be back home tomorrow in his role as a non-executive director of local TV production company, Waddell Media.

“The managing director Brian Waddell was quick on the phone and asked me the day after we (Celador) sold our television interests, if I would come over and do it?,” he says.

“I told him that if he had been in Sheffield or anywhere else, other than Northern Ireland, I would have just said ‘no, thank you’.

“But I said ‘yes’ because it gives me a chance to visit home half a dozen times a year.”