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Short but sweet: A scene from one of the festival's film shorts, Breaking Out

When it comes to film, Wandsworth doesn't just host Hollywood A-listers for some lights, camera, action (like David Schwimmer, for example, who shot many scenes for Run, Fat Boy, Run in Battersea Park), but the odd movie star lives here as well, such as Keira Knightley.

So it is only appropriate that the borough has its own film festival. This weekend sees the Wandsworth and Westminster Film Festival, with a series of screenings and workshops taking place in the considerable shadow of Battersea Power Station (pictured).

One highlight comes on Saturday night, when an eclectic fistful of short films will be shown. These include Gone To The Dogs, a surreal comedy starring British cinema legends Tony Booth and Dora Bryan plus 15 mutts. Booth plays Jack, a frustrated pensioner who dies and comes back as a dog.

A more serious film is Lost Wax, which traces the story of sculptor Ian Walters, who died last year.

Two psychological dramas are included in the evening; Breaking Out is a powerful exploration into depression that was selected for the Cannes Festival Semaine de la Critique in 2004, while Sick was directed by Mike Rymer and produced by Christine Hartland.

Clapham South-based Christine says: "It is about the breakdown of relationship between father and daughter, and deals with depression - that is how we got support from the Samaritans and NHS.

"I was so impressed by how Mike talked about the film and the way he constructed the script was quite amazing.

"It has similar themes to Breaking Out, which I saw when we were doing Sick.

"It is nice that these are being shown around the power station - it gives it a nice quirky twist."

Sarah Mason, one of the festival organisers at Wandsworth Council, says: "The festival is a great opportunity for local film-makers, and for anyone who is interested in the industry, to take part in the seminars.

"There is so much talent within the borough and we are proud to be showing some of the short films that have been financially assisted by the Wandsworth Film Awards over the past few years, such as Gone To The Dogs."

On Sunday is Buffalo, an innovative and entertaining mix of global short films.

Wandsworth & Westminster Film Festival, Battersea Power Station, Sat and Sun, October 21-22, wandsworth.gov.uk/film

3:29pm Thursday 18th October 2007

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