A WELL-KNOWN British actress will pay Stroud a visit next weekend. 

Maxine Peake, known for her roles in Shameless and dinnerladies, will be in Stroud next weekend as part of the town's film festival. 

James Lavelle is an adventurer, an  award winning film maker and a story-teller.

His inspiring  documentary Race for the Future will be on screen at St Laurence Hall on Wednesday 13. 

Can I Live?   at Hawkwood on Thursday 14th March is  a new digital performance which  traces  Fehinti  Balogun’s personal journey into the biggest challenge of our times.

He weaves his story with spoken word, rap, theatre, animation and the scientific facts,

The Last Tree received great acclaim on its release. Femi is a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after a happy childhood in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner London to live with his mum. Struggling with the unfamiliar culture and values of his new environment, teenage Femi has to figure out which path to adulthood he wants to take. 

Programmed by Black Ark Media, the film  is at Lansdown Hall on Friday 15th March.

Andy Freedman, one of the festival team said: "This year’s programme is the biggest and most varied in the festival’s ten year history and we hope people have found something enjoyable, inspiring or thought provoking over the past few weeks.

"We welcome feedback which will help shape the festival in future’.

The 90 Second film challenge invited people in Stroud to make a short film in response to a theme over just five days.

Over eighty people took up the challenge and the films they made  will be on the big screen in 90 Second Stroud at Lansdown Hall at 11.00 on Saturday 16th March.

This year’s festival has been truly international and Mami Wata tells a story from  Nigerian folklore.

This visually stunning fantasy thriller is Oscar nominated and  is also  screened at Lansdown Hall at 2.00

Later that day at 4.30 at SVA Landscapes of the Soul is the first of the festival’s short film events. The programme includes films with local connections:  Blue Hour by  Simone Einfalt and Mara Simpson, 15 Years by Katie Mayhew and Rise  by  Megan Coleman  and On the Brink Arts.

The second short film screening, The Journey includes Incompatible directed by Maxine Peake. Maxine will introduce the film alongside actor Hayley Standing. 

 The programme will also include The Journey You'll Take by Philip Bos and Laura Makai,  Living in Limbo  by  Claudia Weston and Forbidden Birth directed by Stroud’s  Sohrab  Kavir

Something Between Us  runs on the afternoons of 16th and 17th at the Chapels of Rest in Stroud Cemetery. Local artists Nicjk Grellier and Anna Cady will project multiple films on walls, roof and floors. They will be on hand to talk about the films  which will be looped and run continuously.

Scrapper  is the debut feature of Charlotte Regan, a triumphant comedy-drama with a lot of heart and a splash of magic. 

This upbeat and vibrant film is at the Vue cinema at 4.00 on 17th March

Tarrac, is the final event of the festival.

Fittingly for St Patrick’s Day, there’s an Irish theme  and this award winning drama set on  the Dingle peninsula,  explores how being part of a rowing crew can contribute to well-being.