THE fourth annual Festival of British Cinema returns to Hay-on-Wye from September 21 to 23, expanding to include new venues at Talgarth Town Hall and the new Booths Cinema in Brook Street in addition to screenings in Hay Parish Hall.

For three days, the festival will celebrate the best of British cinema, past and present, screening an exciting selection of drama and documentary, short films and experimental films, and providing a showcase for British independent films that would not otherwise receive a welldeserved screening.

It promises to be an exciting festival, covering everything from Tune for the Blood – the moving documentary made by local film maker Anne Cottringer which follows the lives of a new generation of young farmers in rural Herefordshire over the course of year – to a screening of The Music Lovers , a tribute to the late, great and frequently controversial, Ken Russell.

As well as a programme of films that also includes Hunky Dory , set in a Swansea secondary school and directed by local hero Marc Evans, and the multi-award-winning Tyrannosaur , the festival offers the opportunity to ask questions of many of the filmmakers represented, including Marc Evans, Anne Cottringer and Tim Plester, who will introduce his film, The Way of Morris .

Following last year’s successful appearance, Chris Morris, professor of practice in documentary film at the University of Wales in Newport, will present recent work from Newport’s award-winning documentary, film, and TV course.

The festival will also show three short films, all shot locally, and exploring, in different ways, various stages of life.

Footfalls , directed and choreographed by Caroline Lamb, celebrates the ‘mature, experienced and lived-in body’ of the older dancer. Andrew Berekdar’s drama is about 11-year-old Sam’s search for adventure during the summer holidays and first time director Stephen Nex’s film follows David, a slightly oddball adolescent determined to get his Duke of Edinburgh Gold award.

All three directors will be on hand to answer questions about their work.

The festival offers a British film for everyone – music, horror, comedy and the plain peculiar. It welcomes adults, children, mums and dads and teenagers, disenchanted or not.

For more information, full programme details, and ticket information, go to filmfestivalhay.co.uk.