THE second annual Ilkley Film Festival gets underway this week with screenings of new films, classics and live music from top bands.

The fast-growing festival, which attracted thousands of film fans last year, held its opening gala last night (February 18), and over the rest of this week will welcome directors to question and answer sessions.

Brighton-based indie rock band British Sea Power returns to the Kings Hall on Saturday (February 21) to perform its score to the 1934 film Man of Aran.

In this blend of documentary and fictional narrative from pioneering filmmaker Robert Flaherty, the everyday trials of life on Ireland’s unforgiving Aran Islands are captured with attention to naturalistic beauty and historical detail.

And it will be the turn of British electronica band Asian Dub Foundation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the award winning iconic French film La Haine on Sunday (February 22).

A number of events have already sold out, but tickets are still available for some.

Harry McQueen, director of new film Hinterland, which will be previewed at Ilkley Playhouse on Sunday, welcomed the chance to show his film.

The screening at 1.30pm will be followed by a question and answer section with the director.

Harry said: “I am delighted to screen my debut film alongside films by some of my favourite directors.

“I think Hinterland demonstrates what can be achieved if you replace a lack of budget with a burning love of the material in hand and in doing so acts as an interesting counterpoint to other movies in the programme.”

Meanwhile, home-grown talent will also get its chance to shine when short film Nobbly Carrot 7 — starring Ilkley-born actress Verity Mullan Wilkinson — will be screened at Ilkley Playhouse on Sunday morning.

Telling the story of a fruit and veg market stall seller who trolls the object of her affections through social media, the performance gained Verity a Best Actress Award in last year’s British Independent Film Festival awards.

Hollywood blockbusters, such as Jupiter Ascending, to classics such as The Railway Children, will also be screened.

Travelling Cinema events, however, have had to be cancelled as the mobile venue will not be ready in time. All ticket holders have been contacted, say festival organisers.

Visit ilkleyfilmfestival.co.uk for more details or call (01943) 602319.