A double Oscar winner has been announced as curator of a unique film festival taking place in Bridport later this year.

Writer and director Christopher Hampton will choose films for From Page to Screen, the only film festival that celebrates the art of adaptation.

Christopher will choose the films, invite special guests and take part in a Q&A with broadcaster Francine Stock.

He will also attend each day of the festival, which will run from April 26 to 30 at Bridport Arts Centre.

As a writer Christopher has received Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for Dangerous Liaisons in 1988 and for The Father in 2020, which stars Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. 

He said: “Adapting for the screen, whether it be a novel, a stage play, a biography, a historical event or a newspaper article, presents its own particular problems, perhaps more technical, but in no way less intricate than writing an original screenplay.

"I’ve spent decades ruminating on these issues, without necessarily having reached any firm conclusions, though I do by now, I suppose, have a few tentative suggestions. I’m delighted at the opportunity to visit Bridport to be able to kick some of these suggestions around.”

Christopher's latest screenplay, The Son, a companion piece to The Father, is co-written with Florian Zeller and stars Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby.

Broadcaster Francine Stock will host a Q&A with Christopher discussing his six decade career of adaptations across cinema and the stage.

Bridport Arts Centre and its international creative writing competition, The Bridport Prize, also celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. It recently gained Arts Council England funding for a further three years, one of only 10 organisations in Dorset to receive support.

Phil Gibby, South West Area Director, for Arts Council England said: "The much-loved arts centre is at the beating heart of Bridport’s arts and culture scene, hosting a fantastic calendar of creative and cultural activities and events for audiences in Dorset.

"We’re excited to see them continue inspiring audiences and supporting local artists in the work they do."

For more information about the Page to Screen Festival see the website www.frompagetoscreen.info/