The Second Inverness Film Festival (11-15 November 2004) has been launched with an impressive line-up and programme.

Festival Director Michael McDaid and Vue Cinema Manager Danny Thomas launched the second Inverness Film Festival with details of the ten premieres and advanced screenings that will take place at Vue and Eden Court from 11-15 November and also sees new Tartan Shorts, classic film screenings and special guests.

Michael McDaid said,

"We were delighted with the success of last year’s festival and having one under our belt meant that when I began programming this year’s event I was able to ask for much bigger premieres and headlining advanced screenings. I’m delighted with the opening and closing night premieres. We begin with I ♥ Huckabees starring Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law and Lilly Tomlin and end with Werner Herzog’s “mockumentary” Incident at Loch Ness. This controversial film was shot locally last year and will no doubt cause a real stir. "

Speaking for Vue Cinemas Danny Thomas said,

"Although Inverness Film Festival is only in its second year, it is a mark of the impact of the festival that we have been able to secure such an incredibly strong line-up of new films. I am really looking forward to seeing these films, and it is excellent that Inverness will be screening so many new films."

Joining I ♥ Huckabees, and Incident at Loch Ness, the other premieres in the line-up feature many household names. Danny Boyle, the director of such mammoth hits including Trainspotting and Shallow Grave will be screening his new family film, Millions starring James Nesbitt, Denzil Washington appears in a thrilling re-make of The Manchurian Candidate, Scotland’s own Peter Mullan joins an impressive international cast for Criminal, there is a biopic of Ray Charles starring Jamie Foxx and Reese Witherspoon head’s an all-star British cast in the sumptuous costume drama Vanity Fair.

The theme of this year’s film festival is books and literature and classic screenings include the epic Dr Zhivago, The Leopard, The Night of the Hunter and the family favourite The Slipper and the Rose, in addition the UK’s most famous film critic Barry Norman will be appearing at Eden Court for a special evening recounting his amazing career meeting and interviewing the greatest film stars. He will also take questions from the audience.

Workshops were very popular with film festival attendees and this year will be based on screenwriting, one is for adults and one for young people and follows the theme of Shrek. There will also be the popular FX-make up and animation workshops. As with last year the workshops are free, but booking is strongly recommended. To make the festival complete organisors have created a festival club at the Columba Hotel.

For more information log on to www.invernessfilmfestival.com