Get ready for the first Leamington Underground Cinema festival

The volunteer-run Leamington Underground Cinema (LUC) outfit is hosting its first week-long festival from Monday September 23 to Sunday September 29, at various venues around the town.

Not only will there be six long film screenings, but audiences will also be given the chance to view world premiers of 85 short films by both professional and amateur filmmakers - and take part in some fun events.

Jim Morton, the man behind the LUC concept, said: “We have had entries from as far afield as Spain, the USA and Korea.

“The programme includes a re-enactment of the dance-off scene in Pulp Fiction and spectators will be invited to compete. There is something on every night and all but three of the events are free.”

Formed after Jim and some friends made a film and pursuaded the former Apollo Cinema (now Vue) to screen it, the LUC has gathered a strong following.

Jim said: “I have doing this for a few years so I’ve built up a huge backlog of films I want to share with other people. All but one of the films we are screening have not had a wide release. Some of them have not been shown in this country and one of them has never been shown.

“We gathered a lot of interest by using social media and being tweeted by the likes of the BBC and Channel 4. We have also been helped a lot by local sponsors.

“We had more than 700 entries for the short film award. I was thoroughly shocked. It’s just been crazy.”

Participating venues include the LAMP, the Clarendon pub, the Zephyr Lounge and Spa Centre. For a guide to what’s on and to find out more, visit leamingtonundergroundcinema.wordpress.com