FILM makers from 83 countries are hoping to be in the spotlight at the first Newcastle International Film Festival.
The inaugural festival, which is running from 29 March to 1 April, will feature a whole host of events at various venues around the city, from premiere screenings to an awards ceremony.
And more than 2000 entries have been submitted for the first-ever Victorem awards, which will recognise creative talent in the movie industry across a range of categories.
The glitzy awards will be at the centre of the four day event, which will include 40 movie screenings along with 140 shorts from around the globe, as well as a number of ‘in conversation’ sessions, Q and As and workshops.
Among the stars lined up to appear are Richard Armitage who appeared in The Hobbit, Jools Holland, Get Carter director Mike Hodges, Sean Pertwee, Ian Ogilvy and North East favourites, Jill Halfpenny and Denise Welch.
Events include a special Fright Night evening which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead and a screening of Neil Marshall’s futuristic horror, Doomsday.
Audiences will also get the opportunity to see one of the first screenings following its Oscar win of The Silent Child, along with the premiere of independent British thriller, The Escape.
The festival is the brainchild of North East businesswoman, Jacqui Miller-Charlton MBE, who not only wants to showcase the region to filmmakers but to also look at establishing a viable film industry in the area.
“We have put together an amazing programme of movies and events for the first ever Newcastle International Film Festival and the response we have had has been phenomenal,” she said.
Full details of the festival programme are available at www.newcastlefestival.co.uk.
Tickets for all screenings are available at www.eventibrite.co.uk