AN ANNUAL film festival which went ahead online this year has been hailed as a success – and plans to return to the traditional format next year.

Organisers of the Bridport From Page To Screen Festival have revealed more than 1,000 tickets to the event were sold.

The virtual event took place from Thursday, April 22 until Saturday, April 24 and those who 'attended' were able to watch six films along with talks and interviews with people in the film industry.

Going online this time meant the festival could be saved from another cancellation. The event's organisers now look forward to returning in person in 2022 with live audiences at the big screens of South Street in the Bridport Arts Centre and Electric Palace.

The 2022 From Page to Screen event will be a soundtrack-themed festival curated by Edith Bowman.

The TV and radio broadcaster - who has hosted shows on Radio 1, 2 and 5Live along with front programmes on the BBC Channel 4 and MTV - has helped to promote From Page to Screen this year and even hosted a Q&A.

Ms Bowan said: "I was thoroughly excited to be part of the Bridport Film Festival online programme this year, a great warm up for me to be on board for the real live festival next year.

"It’s a wonderful way to celebrate film and have some fascinating discussions."

The three-day festival featured the Lyme Regis-based 'Ammonite' and 'The Father' starring Anthony Hopkins - along with 'The Personal History of David Copperfield', 'Beats', 'Oliver Sacks - His Own Life' and 'The Mauritanian' - based on Mohamedou Ould Slahi's memoir documenting the 14 years he spent in Guantanamo Bay.

It also featured Q&As with the likes of Mr Slahi, famed actress Gemma Jones and Ammonite director Francis Lee.

All Q&As alongside a recording of the Crowdfunder masterclass on raising funds for filmmaking are now available to view for free at www.frompagetoscreen.info