Lights, camera, action! Leeds International Film Festival programme details revealed

Taking place for the 30th time, the Leeds City Council-backed festival will run from November 3 to 17 and is set to feature more than 300 screenings and events.

And today organisers gave movie lovers a taste of some of the delights that lie in store for them.

The celluloid celebration will open with an evening screening at Leeds Town Hall of Paterson, a comedy drama that garnered acclaim at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

It will be preceded on the night by a screening of Timecode, winner of best short film at Cannes.

The festival’s closing film, again being shown at Leeds Town Hall, is Toni Erdmann, a comedy drama from German director Maren Ade.

Council leader Coun Judith Blake said: “The Leeds International Film Festival is one of the most enduring and popular events in our city’s cultural calendar, and I am delighted to say that this year’s programme will offer one of the best and most diverse programmes yet.

“To mark the 30th anniversary of LIFF, we will this year be holding the festival in 30 venues across Leeds.”

The four main festival venues are Leeds Town Hall, Hyde Park Picture House, Vue at The Light and Everyman Leeds.

Its so-called ‘satellite’ venues include Armley Mills, Belgrave Music Hall, Brudenell Social Club, Chapel FM, Kirkgate Market, Leeds City Museum, Leeds College of Art, Mill Hill Chapel and Otley Courthouse.

Festival director Chris Fell said: “In the city where the world’s first moving images were made in 1888, the film festival is a celebration of Leeds as well as cinema and the variety of experiences that we’re presenting in different locations this year is vast.

“The film festival is for everyone to explore and we hope the audience for our 30th anniversary has an amazing adventure!”

Full festival passes are now on sale, priced at £95 single and £170 double.

For further information, visit the www.leedsfilm.com website.