THE 24th Keswick Film Festival is now open for bookings. 

Festival programmer David Miller believes this year's programme to be one of the strongest collections to date, showcasing both UK and European premieres, pre-releases, and noteworthy Oscar contenders as well as a host of prize-winning films from Festivals such as Cannes and Toronto.

Festival goers will have the chance to see established stars such as Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen and Juliet Binoche alongside up-and-coming actors such as Samuel Edward-Cook (from BBC’s The Gallows Pole).

Festival Director Ian Payne said: "It is a hugely diverse programme, with some stand-out titles.

"Take our documentaries for example – we have the incredibly emotional Four Daughters, the story of a Tunisian family split by the influence of ISIS contrasted with Scala!!!, the history of the notorious and riotous London cinema that was a million miles away from our beloved – but maybe a bit sedate - Alhambra," he said. 

Keswick Film Festival runs from February 29 to March 3 at The Alhambra Cinema, Theatre by the Lake and the Rheged Centre, Penrith.

Tickets and weekend passes are currently selling fast. They can be purchased from the Alhambra website.

Full details of the Festival programme will appear on www.keswickfilmfestival.org once bookings have been confirmed.