FILM makes a welcome return to The Courtyard's programme this week and if it's award-winning, critically-acclaimed movies you're after, then the Edgar Street venue is where you'll want to be this Spring.

Directors of the calibre of Robert Altman, Richard Eyre and Steven Soderbergh will have their latest features screened. Russell Crowe, Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and Julia Roberts are just some of the stars on show and one film, 'Gosford Park', boasts a stellar cast which includes the likes of Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Clive Owen and Michael Gambon.

"We are playing catch-up," said Lee Collins, press and marketing officer.

"After a break of nearly three months because of the successful production of 'Macbeth' in the Studio Theatre, there's a backlog of really terrific flicks that we're having to squeeze into one season.

"As well as 'Gosford Park', we've got Oscar favourites, 'In the Bedroom', 'Iris' and 'A Beautiful Mind', alongside the too-slick-to-be-true 'Ocean's 11' and World War II drama 'Charlotte Gray'.

"Public demand has also dictated the return of two of our biggest sellers of last year - the bittersweet French comedy, 'Amelie' and the family favourite 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'.

The Courtyard also launches its World Cinema Sundays promotion on May 5 featuring the best of film from around the globe. The first film in this exciting new strand is 'Monsoon Wedding', an optimistic and luscious film that scooped the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival last year. The first ever Innuit feature, 'Atanarjuat: The Fastest Runner', a visually stunning and culturally challenging work, will be screened the following week.

Tickets for films at The Courtyard are available on 01432 359252.

David Lynch's 'Mulholland Drive' is being screened this week.