A new music-filled community film festival is set to launch in Croydon this weekend, which will pay special tribute to Aretha Franklin.

Rhythm & Views, supported by Film London/Film Hub London, will be hosted at numerous venues across the borough in the second half of the month, including the David Lean Cinema, Boxpark Croydon, and The BRIT School.

Mayor of Croydon Humayun Kabir will be on hand to launch the festival at Croydon Clocktower on Saturday, June 15.

The unique film festival will celebrate films with music at the heart of them, across all genres – from biopics and musicals – to documentaries, animations and old-time classics.

There will be a screening of Amazing Grace at 2.30pm on June 20 at the David Lean Cinema, to make a special tribute to Aretha Franklin, along with extra performances by spoken word performers and musicians from the area.

This will follow on from a showing of classic blues and soul comedy The Blues Brothers at Boxpark on June 17 at 8pm.

The big screen at Boxpark will also showcase the Oscar-winning biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody on Father's Day, June 16 at 8pm.

The event will also pay tribute to Hollywood golden-age veteran Doris Day, who died recently, with a showing of Calamity Jane on June 19 at 1pm at The BRIT School, which will also feature an afternoon tea dance featuring Certitude Line Dance.

Another key feature of the Rhythm & Views Film Festival is a feast of short films from around the world, selected from hundreds of entries to the festival.

The shorts will be shown on June 26 at The BRIT School, with free tickets available..

The festival will close on a high with a 30-year anniversary screening of Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, along with ‘old school’ music vibe, on June 29 at the CACFO UK Community Centre in Thornton Heath.

For further information, you can contact rhythmandviews@yahoo.com