STEPHEN PULLINGER Carry On legend Jack Douglas and Dr Who actor Sylvester McCoy will be star guests at the second Yarmouth Film Festival. This year's festival has been extended to nine days, October 1-9, after the success of the inaugural three-day event.

STEPHEN PULLINGER

Carry On legend Jack Douglas and Dr Who actor Sylvester McCoy will be star guests at the second Yarmouth Film Festival.

This year's festival has been extended to nine days, October 1-9, after the success of the inaugural three-day event.

Thousands of film buffs are expected to flock to the resort to watch films at five venues. It is also hoped the longer festival may attract late-season holidaymakers.

But borough tourism officer Alan Carr stressed success could not be gauged just by visitor numbers.

“This festival forms part of our efforts to reposition the resort and diversify its attractions,” he said.

“We are looking to make this a long-term event and place it as an important film festival on the national map.”

Mr McCoy will appear at the Hollywood Cinema at 7.30pm on October 2 for an interview and screenings of two Dr Who episodes, Battlefield and Remembrance of the Daleks.

Mr Douglas will appear there the following night for the showing of Carry On Girls.

An innovation this year will be the screening of two sub-titled Portuguese films, hoping to appeal to Norfolk's large Portuguese community.

Film makers with Yarmouth roots will also be featured in three UK premieres.

One, Paul Spurrier, now based in Bangkok, tells the story of a country girl caught up in the Thai sex industry, in his film P.

Heritage films from the University of East Anglia archives will focus on Norfolk fairgrounds and Norfolk planes, trains and wherries.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy will be shown, while cult classics to be screened include Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Brighton Rock.

The festival's Unforgettable Memories package includes Singin' in the Rain, Jaws and Grease as well as Dr Who and the Carry On film.

Special events throughout the week include walks and talks on David Copperfield and Nelson.

A short film season includes Friday Night Shirt, a locally made work focusing on domestic violence, shown last week at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival.

Venues will be the Hollywood Cinema, Regent Theatre, St George's Theatre, Norfolk Nelson Museum and Maritime House.

For further details, including prices for various film packages, ring 01493 846345.