An eclectic arts festival in north Norfolk will be focusing on film for the first time this year.

The Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival (COAST) started four years ago and will kick off on Friday October 25 at the Cromer Pavilion Theatre with the premiere of the Blue Balloon starring John Hurt.

It will finish on November 3 and attractions include a Bollywood dance family workshop, African drumming session, magic lantern show and writers' forum.

Siri Taylor, co-ordinator of the COAST Film Festival, said: 'This year we are concentrating on film because there seems to be an interest in that area. We thought we would involve the community as much as we could. We are about having fun.'

Just over 50 films will be shown in a different venues across Sheringham and Cromer.

Short amateur films sent in by people across the world will also be judged at Sheringham Little Theatre on October 29 between 7.30-10pm. The Blue Balloon will be screened on the same night.

The short production makes references to about 30 iconic film moments and was shot around Cromer in April.

It was produced by Ms Taylor from Cromer, Eddie Anderson from Northrepps, and Paul Watson from Sheringham.

Ms Taylor said the festival was about getting people to enjoy different forms of art they would not normally experience.

She added: 'COAST started to extend the tourist season for the benefit of both towns. On a cold wintery October day all these events make people's half term holiday go with a zing.'

One of the highlights will be the free BBC Voices workshops which cover everything connected to film, music and radio.

They will happen at the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum and the Rocket House, both in Cromer, on October 31 between 10am-4pm, and the Mo Sheringham Museum on Lifeboat Plain, Sheringham, on November 1 at the same time.

COAST attracts on average 16,000 people and is organised by a team of eight volunteers.

This year it received £5,700 from grants and sponsorship as well as £4,000 from fund-raising.

Money came from Cromer and Sheringham town councils; North Norfolk District Council; Norfolk County Council; the Geoffrey Watling Trust; Norfolk Community Foundation; and the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust.

For more information about the event visit www.casaf.co.uk or www.coastfilm-festival.com. Alternatively programmes are in shops across Sheringham and Cromer.