THE PROGRAMME for a popular Stroud festival has been announced - with organisers calling it the biggest yet. 

Stroud Film Festival runs from February 22 until March 17, and this year 50 films will be shown at ten venues across the area. 

The aim is to offer a selection of  films which appeal to a wide range of audience tastes.

Award winning films for children and families are on the programme this year with The Boy and the Heron, Scrapper and Children of the Sea alongside a relaxed screening of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical with the charity Allsorts.

Another of this year’s strands focuses on film and music starting with Angelheaded Hipster (Marc Bolan) on February 4 and Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads) on February 24 and more treats in store later in the festival.

Marc Jobst shares his unique insight as director of the screen adaptation of the world’s most popular Manga series, One Piece on February 10. 

Marc is one of a number directors who will be making their way to Stroud and he’s also a patron of the festival.

He said: "This year’s festival brings us an inspirational season of stories from all over the world, from Iran to Nigeria and films that challenge, inspire, explore, and entertain featuring roller skaters, nurses singing in Finland to pirates, farmers and weavers’

The following week, February 17, Stroud based director Zara Balfour introduces the premiere of short drama Morning Star, while on the same bill sound designer Tom Jacob gives insights into the unique production of the score to short film Tender Loving Care. 

Science fiction themed workshops hosted at the Museum in the Park are also aimed at families and include making your own flip book and designing a film poster.

Sci-fi is also the theme for the exhibition of re-imagined film posters by Stroud Illustrators’ Collective at Lansdown Gallery, Museum in the Park, Stroud Brewery and The Prince Albert and the first of these is begins on February 9.

 A number of events explore issues around food, farming and the future of the planet:  The Letter  (7th February), Six Inches of Soil, A Year in a Field, (22nd February) and (23rd February),

This year, it’s about making films as well as watching them. The 90 Second Film Challenge invites everyone in Stroud to make a short film in response to a theme over just a few days during the festival.

The films entered in the challenge will be on the big screen in 90 Second Stroud at Lansdown Hall on Saturday 16th March.

To volunteer contact - info@stroudfilmfestival.org