THE third Wellington Film Festival opens next week with a wider range of films and events than ever before.

From comedy classics such as ‘Life of Brian’ to outdoor ‘Mamma Mia’, via locally-produced documentaries, the festival really has something for everybody.

The community’s pioneering recent efforts in planting nearly 4,000 native trees in spaces along the Green Corridor are celebrated in Jem McCluskey’s new film ‘This Town Plants Trees’.

Festival vice-chairman Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “So many residents picked up their spades to help that there is bound to be somebody you know in this one.

“If gothic horror is more your thing, then the already slightly spooky surroundings of St John’s Church provides the perfect auditorium for a showing of the 1926 silent classic ‘Faust’, about a desperate man’s pact with the Devil.

“Specially composed live music on guitar, synthesisers, and traditional folk instruments accompanies the film.”

A silent comedy from Hollywood giant Buster Keaton will be showing in the rather different environment of Brazier café and bar, in Tonedale, with refreshments available from the newly installed Two Hands Brewery.

Cllr Wheatley said: “The festival is a celebration of the many things that people love about film.

“The first festival in 2022 was pretty much a shot in the dark for us but it is now clear that a mixture of old favourites, locally made documentaries, and films with an environmental theme really does appeal to the public.”

Former Wellington resident Kate Hughes, now an Exmoor farmer and author, will be giving a talk about her family’s experiences re-wilding Wood Advent Farm, near Roadwater.

Her question and answer session will follow a showing of the internationally successful documentary ‘Wilding’, charting the long term progress of a similar scheme in Sussex.

‘Life of Brian’ falls into the category of much-loved but seldom seen nowadays.

This religious satire was made in 1979 by the Monty Python team and was both wildly popular and hugely controversial on its release, being banned in several small towns, although not in Wellington.

Cllr Wheatley said: “The other thing that makes the festival so enjoyable is the chance to participate, not just sit in the dark and watch the movie.

“The Sunday lunchtime free movie themes concert in Wellington Park draws big numbers and the finale movie quiz at the Iron Duke is always a sell-out.

“Of course, none of this would be possible without our funders and sponsors.

“Our enormous thanks go to the town council, Carly Press, Ruxstons, Nest, Risdons Solicitors, and Nick Nacks Antiques, plus our many programme advertisers.”

Full details of all the film festival events are on the festival’s website http://wellingtonfilmfestival.org.uk from which tickets can be booked, while programmes can also be picked up from the town council offices in Fore Street.

The festival, which is held at 18-month intervals, opens on Friday, October 3, and runs until Sunday, October 5, and also features a question and answer session with actor James Purefoy and a children’s Labyrinth mask making workshop in the council’s Pop Up Shop.