SCREEN icon Elizabeth Taylor is one of the main stars in the spotlight at this year’s Purbeck Film Festival, it has been announced.

Film buffs can look forward to two weeks of exciting screenings at a range of venues including Wareham’s historic Rex cinema and Swanage ’s Mowlem Theatre.

A host of other screenings – at arts centres, village halls, pubs, tourism venues and hotels – completes a fortnight of films from October 12.

Aside from Liz Taylor’s movies, the festival also features a number of comedies including the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup and silent caper The Circus.

And a special exhibition, running alongside the festival for its two week duration, takes place at Durlston Castle’s Fine Foundation Exhibition Hall. This comprises material from the British Film Institute and Exeter University’s Bill Douglas Centre.

Festival spokesman Julie Sharman said: “Find out more about the history of early and silent cinema from 1895, see posters from the era and gaze on examples of early cinema technology and Chaplin memorabilia.”

The festival opens at the Rex Cinema with the Academy Award-winning short film by Dutch director Michael Dudok de Wit. The Lighthouse opens with a Liz Taylor movie and the popular Hugo film.

Julie said: “The Purbeck Shorts Competition, now in its third year, offers national and international filmmakers an opportunity to see their film on the big screen in front of a professional judging panel, who will decide on the winner at the end of the evening.

“We are also delighted to announce that we will once again join the Screen Bites Festival during the Purbeck Film Festival and will feature a screening of Israeli film The Lemon Tree, preceded by a tasting of delicious local food and produce.”

Other venues screening festival films include The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers; Langton Matravers Village Hall, and Durlston Castle.

Visit purbeckfilm.com for full festival details.