Judi Dench is the patron of the first Ilkley Film Festival, featuring more than 20 events and screenings.
The programme, which runs from tomorrow until Sunday, includes Dame Judi in the Oscar-nominated Philomena.
The film festival will transform the town’s King’s Hall and Ilkley Playhouse into cinemas.
Other films include A Private Function, filmed on location in Ilkley; classics Cinema Paradiso and Metropolis, with a live accompaniment; and a 25th anniversary screening of When Harry Met Sally.
Comedian Paul Merton will present his show Silent Clowns, a homage to silent film greats, such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, with pianist Neil Brand providing live accompaniment.
Mark Herman, whose films include Brassed Off and Little Voice, will give a directing masterclass and the Yorkshire Film Archive has compiled an Ilkley Through The Ages film.
In a nod to the Tour de France visiting the district in July, a film about Lance Armstrong’s drugs scandal – The Armstrong Lie – is also being shown.
Festival organiser, Martin Pilkington, who is a teacher, launched and ran the Cheltenham Film Festival in 2010-11.
Call (01943) 602319 or visit ilkleyfilmfestival.co.uk for details.
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