Screen Stockport Film Festival at The Plaza

Growing from a small outfit to a nationally recognised festival over the space of only a few years, Screen Stockport has gained a reputation for being an excellent launchpad for North West film talent and is genuine jewel in the cultural crown of Manchester’s southerly younger brother. This year’s festival is no exception, offering a full day of new cinematic delights: 24 shorts across four categories, all vying for prizes handed out by the panel of industry judges. Many of these films will be receiving their first public screening – and where better to experience a slew of premieres than from within the restored art deco grandeur of Stockport’s Plaza. The festival also features a lunchtime Q&A with Carol Morley, the writer-director of 2011’s heartbreaking docudrama Dreams of a Life – and after the winners of every category are announced, the day’s rounded off a with a screening of Frank (pictured, 7.30pm), the fictionalised Frank Sidebottom biopic scribed by Psychopath Test author – and former Oh Blimey Band keyboardist – Jon Ronson. For Cheshire folk, this festival is an absolute must; for Mancunians, it’s well worth the seven-mile trip to see the future of Northern cinema in such a unique venue.

Thu 16 Oct, The Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport, Cheshire. SK1 1SP, from 10.30am, £6.50 (£5 conc), www.screenstockport.co.uk