THE FIRST ever Sahar International Short Film Festival will bring clips from freelancers around the world to the Millgate Arts Centre in Delph this month.
On Saturday, February 21, the festival will run from 9am to 10pm offering more than 60 films in all genres from filmmakers from Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
And filmmaker Mandana Ansari from Lees, who is directing the festival with Martin Gleeson, hopes it will become an annual event in the Saddleworth calendar.
She said: “I have created SISFF to make an opportunity for freelance filmmakers such as myself to have their short films screened in front of a public audience.
“The Festival is different to the many around the world which simply select the films based on the highest production standards.
“We are grateful to the Saddleworth Players for making their excellent theatre available and helping with the marketing.”
The non-competition films begin at 9am until 12noon, followed by the competition section from 1pm until 3pm, and then a second session of non-competition films.
An international panel has been brought in to judge the competition films, with members based in the Middle East and the UK including local film, TV and stage actor Will Ash.
The Best Film awards will be decided by audience votes, with prizes presented at approximately 9pm.
Mandana added: “SISFF has a Competition Section, for which we have deliberately selected low budget films which have not been previously screened at any other festival.
“The Competition Section films are professionally produced by filmmakers who are serious about making a career in the film industry.
“Without a large crew of sound and lighting technicians and professional actors, the competition films may lack some of the “gloss” of big budget productions, but the artistic talent shines through.”
Tickets cost £10 for the day and can be bought on the door or in advance from the SISFF website.
Some of the selected films contain adult content so the festival cannot admit children under 16. For a full schedule, visit the website.
