THE Cotswold International Film Festival returns to Stroud's Subscription Rooms next weekend with a plethora of fine short films.

Now in its sixth year, the festival attracts filmmakers from around the globe.

Drama, comedy, documentaries, fairy stories, wildlife films, music, science fiction and much more are well represented at the event, which showcases films which are rarely or never shown in commercial cinemas.

Funded by Stroud District Council and Stroud Town Council, as well as a number of local businesses, the festival is a community based project from the Stroud Video Makers Unit.

This year, 121 movies have been entered from 16 different countries including America, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Italy, Germany and Portugal, as well as many from throughout the UK.

Organisers say the standard of competition is extremely high this year, with more than 80 per cent of the films entered described as "excellent." The festival is open to both professional and non-professional filmmakers.

The work of two local filmmakers is included in the festival - Kojo Tsakpo from Gloucester, whose film Picked has been awarded the Professional Silver Award, and Damien Wasylkiw of Stroud, who has been awarded Best Editing for his film The Ball.

The movie was filmed in Randwick Woods and involves Damien and his two brothers playing football.

The public screenings of the best and winning films will take place on Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3 in the Subscription Rooms in Stroud.

Saturday's showing will include the presentations of the awards to the winners.

For tickets and information call 01453 760900 or alternatively call festival organiser Lee Prescott on 01453 760900.