Movie star and north Norfolk resident John Hurt is best-known for big budget productions including Alien and The Elephant Man.
But, in October, the Bafta-winning star will appear in a short film made on a shoestring and shot in Sheringham and Cromer.
Mr Hurt, who moved to the area three years ago, is starring in The Blue Balloon, a film made for Cromer and Sheringham's annual Coast arts festival by a team of local film professionals.
Inspired by the Oscar-winning 1956 short the Red Balloon, the film was the idea of TV producer and director Eddie Anderson, who teamed up with film maker Siri Taylor and video editor Paul Watson.
'We wanted to have a film festival as part of Coast,' Mr Anderson explained. 'But we had no money, so it has all been done with people's wonderful goodwill.'
Mr Anderson from Northrepps was a producer for Anglia TV for 30 years said Mr Hurt threw himself into his latest local role.
'Even though it was raining and cold, he turned up already dressed for the part, looking like a very debonair Frenchman,' said Mr Anderson.
The film follows the adventures of a young girl (played by Mr Anderson's seven-year-old great-niece Hope Bradby) as she pursues a magical blue balloon through Cromer and Sheringham.
Film buffs attending the premiere at Cromer's Pavilion Theatre on October 25 will be invited to test their cinema know-how, with a competition to spot references to more than 20 classic movies.
Characters from iconic films dating back to the 1920s are played by local people made up to look like star.
The festival will also feature a community film project entitled Have Your Say, and the winning entries of a competition to make a short film on the theme of My Coast.
Schools, community groups and individuals are invited to submit a DVD of between one and five minutes long, with cash prizes and Coast 'Academy Awards' handed out to the winners.
'We would really like to encourage people to have a go,' Mr Anderson said. 'Years ago, film making was a specialist art, but, today, anyone and everyone can make a film.'
For more information, or to download an entry form, visit www.coastfilm-festival.com or for a full festival programme, visit www.casaf.co.uk.
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