The first Great Yarmouth Film Festival gets under way on Thursday September 30 with a host of events linked in with the world of cinema and television.

The first Great Yarmouth Film Festival gets under way on Thursday September 30 with a host of events linked in with the world of cinema and television.

The centrepiece of the festival will be celebrating the career of the legendary, double Oscar-winning cinematographer Jack Cardiff OBE, who born in Yarmouth in 1914. Jack, who is giving a special cinematography masterclass on the opening evening of the festival, will be presented with an award by another famous Norfolk son, Stephen Fry, to recognise his contribution to the world of cinema. The evening, which begins at 7pm at the town's Hollywood Cinema, will be followed by a screening of the classic 1946 fantasy drama A Matter of Life and Death.

Another classic Cardiff film, 1948's The Red Shoes, will be shown at the venue on Friday October 1.

Thursday's programme (September 30) includes a screening of musical favourite Calamity Jane (U) at 10am at the Regent Theatre; Kill Bill Vol 1 (18) at the Hollywood (6.30pm); Yarmouth archive films (Yarmouth College, 7.30pm) and a late-night screening of 1968 historical horror Witchfinder-General (11pm, Hollywwod).

Friday's events (October 1) include an all-day archive and industry conference at the Hippodrome; Kill Bill Vol 2 (6.30pm, Hollywood); Dad's Army Night (7.30pm, Hollywood); Yarmouth on Film (7.30pm, St George's Theatre); The Red Shoes (see above); and a Rocky Horror Party Night at the town's Atlantis Arena nightclub.

The festival, which continues to Sunday October 3, also includes a Film, TV and Toy Collectors' Fair, children's animation workshops, the regional preview of Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington and the first back-to-back screening of the Matrix Trilogy in the UK plus the screening of The Lord of the Rings trilogy back-to-back.

Full details from www.greatyarmouthfilmfestival.co.uk and the Yarmouth Tourist Information Centre on 01493 842195.