FILM fans from across the country are gearing themselves up to return to Cumbria for the 23rd Keswick Film Festival. 

The festival, which runs from February 23 - 26, will feature 25 films from all around the world, including Oscar nominees. 

Festival director, Ian Payne said: "This is always an exciting time. We know our programme of 25 films from around the world will offer a brilliant weekend’s entertainment and it is a chance to welcome old friends back to the Alhambra. 

"Over the last few weeks, some of our titles such as Enys Men, Blue Jean, EO, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (which is Oscar nominated) have been on general release and the reviews have been amazing. 

"Watch out for some hidden gems as well – Full Time from France is as tense a thriller as you can get and I defy anyone not to be moved by the delightful Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, which is our first film from Bhutan. The programme is incredibly varied, from social realism to films exploring LGBT themes to out and out family dramas. The common factor is superb story-telling," he said. 

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A key part of the Festival is the Osprey Short Film Awards, which will take place at the Theatre by the Lake on Saturday February 25. 

10 films with a Cumbrian connection have been shortlisted and this free to enter programme of films will give us a glimpse of tomorrow’s talent. Prizes will be presented by the festival’s two guests – Hassan Nazer (director of Winners – the Festival’s gala screening) and Sarah Beddington (director of Fadia’s Tree), who is currently making a film in the county.
The festival kicks off with Godland, which is set in Iceland. 

This will be a poignant evening for Ingvar Árni Ingvarsson, who contacted the festival saying: "Hi, I just booked tickets to see Godland for myself, partner and two of our children. I am very excited to see it in a cinema setting as my dad is in it and it was his final acting role before passing away in 2021 so he never got to see it. I just wanted to know if my 17 month-old daughter can also attend - unfortunately she missed out on meeting him by three weeks.’

The full programme and both individual tickets and weekend passes are available via the Festival website www.keswickfilm.org/festival 

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