A large crowd from business, arts, film and TV enjoyed the grand surroundings of Cheltenham Film Studios Manor House for the Cheltenham launch of the Screenwriters’ Festival last week hosted by South West Screen's Caroline Norbury and Dan Howard of the University of Gloucestershire.

The festival, which takes place in June 2006 at the Cotswold based studio, is supported by high profile industry names including Stephen Woolley, Bill Nicholson and BBC Bristol based Casualty Executive Producer Mervyn Watson and is devoted to the art, craft and business of writing for the screen.

Speakers included David Pearson (Director of the Screenwriters Festival and MD of Arturi Films), actors Simon Shepherd (Peak Practice), Martina Laird and James Redmond (both Casualty) and screenwriter Barbara Machin (Waking The Dead). Simon, James and Martina spoke of how important good screenwriting is for them as actors while Barbara emphasised the importance of the role of the writer to reflect o­n TV and in film what is happening in society.

To find out more about the festival see www.screenwritersfestival.com