<p>The curtain is about to rise on the first Angus film festival in the latest step forward for a community cinema group.</p>

<p>Brechin Community Cinema is staging the festival, which gets under way on Friday November 16, with a celebration of Scottish film chosen as the theme of the inaugural event.</p>

<p>The three-day festival in Brechin City Hall will feature new and old Scottish and Scottish-themed movies and begins with the first Angus showing of Scottish director May Miles-Thomas’ new film, Voyageuese.</p>

<p>Narrated by Welsh actress Sian Philips, the movie has won rave reviews and is described as “romance, science and conspiracy in the twentieth century”.</p>

<p>The film revolves around the main character of Erica Thomas, who, when she dies, leaves family films, photos, letters and objects dating back 100 years, which reveal a life of which her children knew nothing.</p>

<p>It will be followed by Robert Carlyle’s directorial debut, The Legend of Barney Thompson.</p>

<p>Saturday will see the screening of a wide selection of noted Scottish productions including Brave, Braveheart and a rare presentation of the acclaimed 1930s Michael Powell movie, The Edge of the World, the story of the depopulation of the island of St Kilda.</p>

<p>A festival spokesperson said: “By popular request the evening features Sunset Song followed by the chance to see the director’s cut of the original Wicker Man.</p>

<p>“Sunday follows in a similar vein, with highlights including Dogma director Lars Von Trier and actress Emily Watson’s breakthrough movie Breaking The Waves. The festival will close with a screening of the Sheila Hancock movie, Edie.</p>

<p>“Brechin Community Cinema has been running successfully for over three years now and the festival is the culmination of a lot of hard work, including securing funding for our own projection equipment from the European Leader fund, which has made this festival possible.</p>

<p>“We hope the local community get behind the festival, which is another first for Angus from Brechin.</p>

<p>“Plans are already in motion for next year’s festival, the theme for which is provisionally Award Winners.</p>

<p>The cinema group said they were delighted to have received sponsorship from City Press of Brechin and support from Express Logos.</p>

<p>Weekend tickets are £15, which gets entry to all screenings or £6 for individual movies.</p>

<p>Festival tickets are now available from newsplus, Brechin or <span>www.ticketsource.co.uk/brechincinema</span>, with details also Details available at <span>brechinfilmfest.co.uk</span> and on Facebook.</p>
