THE BIG film festival in the small town returns – promising premiers galore.

Holmfirth Film Festival, now in its third year, includes a talk from TV journalist and presenter Joan Bakewell and a talk from Shirley Anne Field..

Ms Bakewell has presented numerous programmes including BBC2’s Late Night Line-Up and Newsnight, on which she was a film and arts critic.

Joan will discuss her favourite films at Holmfirth Picturedrome on Thursday, May 24 (7.30pm).

Marsden-born poet and author Simon Armitage will be discussing his favourite film, The Great White Silence, at the same venue on Sunday, May 20 (7.30pm).

The 1924 silent film, about explorer Robert Scott’s doomed journey to the Antarctic, will be scored by celebrated international composer and Holmfirth resident, Barry Russell.

Shirley Anne Field, the star of early 1960s Brit flicks such as The Entertainer and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, will be talking about her film and TV career and the Picturedrome on May 20.

And of course, Holmfirth Film Festival, which runs from Friday May 19 to Saturday 26, includes a whole range of movies, many of which will be premiered at the festival.

Premieres include The Mexican Suitcase, about the discovery of treasure troves of old photographs, including some by Spanish Civil War photographer Robert Capa.

As well as new, independent films, the festival will also be showing a few classic movies, including Stanley Kubrick’s legendary adaptation of Nabokov’s Lolita.

The making of the film, which stars Marsh-born movie star James Mason, will be discussed after the screening at Brambles Cafe Bar, on Saturday May 26 (1pm).

There will also be a number of locally produced films including ‘Supermarkets Ate My Valley’ about the controversy surrounding Tesco’s plan to open a superstore in Holmfirth.

And this time Holmfirth Film Festival is spreading its wings to other places in the Holme Valley with events at Carlile Institute, Meltham, Upperthong Village Hall, Holme Sunday School and Hepworth Village Hall.

Event chairman Stephen Dorril said: “We’re lucky this year to be premiering some films that haven’t been shown or have barely been seen.

“This year we’re involving schools and young people in making films.

“There’ll be two to three events each night so there’ll be a lot more choice.”

For more information about Holmfirth Film Festival visit: www.holmfirthfilmfestival.co.uk

Tickets are available from Holmfirth Tourist Information Centre, Huddersfield Road.