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Thursday 17th to Sunday 27th September

Celebrating all things cinematic - from the briefest short made on a micro budget, to the all-singing all-dancing musical 'Mamma Mia!' on the outdoor Airscreen - the festival promises to present its usual eclectic mix of UK premieres, international guests, cult classics, tributes and themed programmes, documentaries and family features.

Special themes include British spy thrillers, the work of George and Mike Kuchar, border crossings, photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon, and a selection of films to celebrate the life of Jack Cardiff - one of the greatest cinematographers of all time and Marilyn Monroe's favourite!

Michael Palin, courtesy Cambridge Film Festival

Some of the famous names making an appearance will be Michael Palin, who'll be in Ely to talk about his life in cinema, and 'Big River Man' Martin Strel whose record-breaking swim up the entire length of the Amazon River was made into a fascinating eco-documentary.

You can also meet a whole host of directors, producers, actors and leading figures from the film world in a range of discussions, Q&A's and talks. So take a look at the highlights below, and start planning your schedule now!

Mamma Mia! courtesy Cambridge Film Festival

Getting fresh in the build up...

There are some great outdoor events taking place in the run up to the festival. During the August Bank Holiday weekend you can enjoy sunset screenings on the gigantic Airscreen down at Grantchester Meadows:

On Sunday 30th watch the first ever 'silent disco' screening of 'Mamma Mia!'. Special FM radios will be provided for the duration of the event so that you can listen to the great soundtrack while admiring the tranquil surroundings down by the riverside.

Giant Airscreen, copyright Tom Catchesides/CFF

On Monday 31st you can sit under the stars once again to watch a preview screening of eco-documentary 'Big River Man' in the presence of the star of the film, champion long distance swimmer Martin Strel... how will the Cam compare to the Amazon?!

And for four nights in September (10th, 12th, 14th and 24th) you can enjoy a uniquely Cambridge experience with 'Night of the Punter', where cinema lovers are invited to take to the water and watch films from a punt on the river! A flotilla of punts will glide along in the moonlight stopping at various points to enjoy films projected from the opposite side of the river... champagne included!

Alec Guinness in 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'

More festival highlights...

* The Spying Game: British Cinema and the Secret State - On the 20th anniversary of the end of the Cold War and the centenary of the founding of MI5, the festival explores TV and cinema's fascination with the adventure, intrigue and locations of the British spy thriller.

* In Conversation with Michael Palin - a special event jointly organised with BAFTA, to tie in with the publication of the second volume of his diaries, 'Halfway to Hollywood 1980 to 1988: The Film Years'.

* Silents on the Streets - Magdalene Street and Bridge Street will be closed to traffic so that five outdoor screens can be erected to show archive and silent films from Cambridge and the region.

The Red Shoes, courtesy Cambridge Film Festival

* Jack Cardiff Tribute - A selection of films to celebrate the life of Jack Cardiff who died earlier this year....

Almost universally considered one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, Jack Cardiff was also known as "the man who makes women look beautiful" and was Marilyn Monroe's favoured cinematographer. The festival tribute includes several Powell and Pressburger classics and the first digital screening of the newly restored, 'The Red Shoes'.

* Identity of the Soul - Based on Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's poem 'Terje Vigen' and Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish's 'A Soldier Dreams of White Lilies', 'Identity of the Soul' is a unique five-screen cinematic installation combining poetry and music in a tale of revenge, reconciliation and the individual with a stirring narrative read by Vanessa Redgrave.

* Border Crossings - A season of new films exploring themes of political exile, travelling cinema and economic migration.

To get full details about what's on and when, visit the Cambridge Film Festival and sign up for the festival newsletter. The full film and events programme will be available and online from 31st August. Priority booking for Arts Picturehouse members opens on Monday 31st with public booking commencing on 3rd September.