ADAPTING books for the screen has been a staple of the film industry since it first began.

Now Bridport Arts Centre’s film season From Page To Screen, running Monday, April 6, to Good Friday, April 10, celebrates the art, selecting award-winning films based on best-selling books.

Special guest speakers will talk about the film screened and run Q and A sessions, plus there’ll be film notes available giving you invaluable insights into both film and book. The season starts on Monday, April 6, with a little known gem, a 1948 film called The Fallen Idol, adapted from a short story by Graham Greene. If you’d like to make your own mind up about its transition from page to screen, you can download Greene’s story from Bridport Arts Centre’s website to read before watching the film.

Authors range from Thomas Hardy to Tracey Chevalier via Joseph Conrad and Graham Greene. The films selected are all great examples of converting the printed page onto the big screen, such as Far From The Madding Crowd and Che Part One, and many come laced with awards for the screenwriters.

One Bafta-nominated screenwriter who will be appearing at the film season is Olivia Hetreed, who adapted Tracey Chevalier’s popular novel Girl With A Pearl Earring. Olivia describes the experience: “The first time I read it I was just keen to get to the end of the story to know what was going to happen. And then I thought, this is a movie. I could completely see the film in it from the first reading, which isn’t always the case.”

Girl With A Pearl Earring will be screened on Thursday, April 9, at 7.30pm, and both Olivia Hetreed and producer Andy Paterson will talk about their experience of screen adaptation revealing the ‘behind the camera’ story.

From Page To Screen is the latest event in Bridport Arts Centre’s calendar that celebrates the printed word.

For many years, it has been the home of the Bridport Prize for literature and, more recently, of the Bridport Literary Festival, which this year runs from November 13-22.

All screenings are just £5 and a season ticket will save you up to £10. Book on 01308 424204 or email boxoffice@bridport-arts.com – you can also read Graham Greene’s story at bridport-arts.co.uk