WORK by local filmmakers will be shown alongside Hollywood blockbusters at the first film festival in Barnard Castle.

It takes place this month over five days, organised by the Witham Cinema, with the aim of attracting visitors from far and wide.

The cinema was established in the Witham Hall last year after residents spoke out about the distance they had to travel to watch a film on the big screen.

The festival begins on Wednesday, February 23, with a launch event at the Nest Gallery in Newgate.

There will be a talk about social networking by David Laud, a marketing professional, who has explored the world of social media for personal and professional means and regularly uses Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook and Flickr.

The theme of the festival is Local Connections, and the films chosen have links to the North-East, including Atonement, which had scenes shot in Redcar, and Get Carter, which included sequences in Newcastle.

Local filmakers will have equal billing, with movies such as Kiss, Chase, Catch, Match, by Ambitious Motion Pictures, Karl’s Lambing, by Teeny Tiny Films, Dad’s Dog, by Alan Fentiman, and The Homing Instinct by Meerkat Films.

On Sunday, February 27, there will be a full afternoon dedicated to animation. Jennifer Cartwright, from Reality Studios, will introduce animations in different styles before a talk and discussion.

Annalisa Ward, from the Witham Cinema, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response from filmmakers and animators. This is the start of what we hope will become an annual event in the town’s calendar.”

Other projects running alongside the festival including the production of a film made in a day, a youth film project and the premiere of Indian Pickle – a Bollywoodstyle movie made by Barnard Castle resident Geoff Dixon and Indian restaurant The Bengal Merchant.

The project has received funding from the North Pennine Dales Leader programme.

Sue Ellwood, co-ordinator, said: “We are really excited about this new project and hope the festival will attract new visitors to the town as well as provide the local community with something different in the school holidays.”

Festival passes are £10 and are available from the box office at the Witham Hall in Horsemarket.