JOURNALIST AND writer Jon Ronson will be the guest curator at next year’s Bridport Page to Screen festival.

He will take the helm of the popular event – the UK’s only film festival dedicated to the adaptation of books into films – on April 2 to 6.

Mr Ronson said: “I’m thrilled to be part of the next From Page to Screen festival, having been through the adaptation process myself. I have high ambitions for the festival. We’re planning amazing theme nights and special events,” he said.

Mr Ronson is a journalist, filmmaker and author of non-fiction books including The Psychopath Test.

The 2009 film – The Men Who Stare At Goats – was adapted from Ronson’s book and stars George Clooney.

Together with screenwriter Peter Straughan, Jon has also penned the soon-to-be-released Frank. Loosely autobiographical – Mr Ronson once played keyboards in the Frank Sidebottom band – Frank is a comedy starring Michael Fassbender and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Bridport Arts Centre. in collaboration with partner venue the Electric Palace, will show a wide range of films over five days at the two venues. Most screenings will feature a talk by authors or film-makers.

Polly Gifford, director of Bridport Arts Centre, said: “We are delighted to work with Jon as our guest curator this year. “We look forward to welcoming him to Bridport and revealing his film choices in the coming months.”

Jon’s other books include bestsellers Them: Adventures with Extremists, and Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries. Jon writes for The Guardian, US GQ, and in the US is a contributor to This American Life.

He also has his own Radio 4 series Jon Ronson On… .

Benefits for festival friends

From Page To Screen was founded in 2009 by Bridport Arts Centre, inspired by the Bridport Prize – one of the UK’s longest running and respected literary prizes.

People can also become a Friend of the Festival again this year. By showing their support financially people can help sustain the festival as a keynote arts event in the Bridport calendar.

Extra benefits include advance notification of events, early bird booking and complimentary invite to a special ‘Friends’ event and free tickets for the festival raffle.