CUMBRIA's first Chinese film festival will be returning for a sequel to Keswick come the new year. 

MINT Chinese Film Festival will be an international celebration of cinema at Keswick's Alhambra Cinema, running from February 1 - 4. 

One of the festival organisers, Carol Rennie, co-owner of the Alhambra Cinema, is expecting a turnout similar to last year in which the screenings brought around 250 people including Chinese students from all across the UK. 

"It's amazing we've managed to do it again this year and put Keswick on the map for people interested in Chinese film," Carol said. 

"We think there were at least 300 to 400 overnight stays last year in Keswick. 

News and Star: Student gives their take during last year's MINT Chinese film festival Student gives their take during last year's MINT Chinese film festival (Image: Supplied)

"We now know other Chinese students have been visiting Keswick after last year's festival and telling their friends. This is all part of our drive to increase sustainable tourism.

"It's a fantastic market to attract those who are already in the UK," Carol said. 

The idea for Cumbria's first Chinese film festival comes from Carol, who speaks Mandarin and has a PhD in Chinese Literature, and her fellow 'force of nature' co-curator, Yixiang Shirley Lin, founder of UnicornScreening.

 

Mint, now officially established as a Community Interest Company, has expanded this year by opening the submission competitions to long feature films.

Submissions have been pouring in from filmmakers around the world. Among the entries have included Spanish creators filming in China, American filmmakers, talents from Southeast Asia, and a poignant piece by a third-generation Chinese girl from Costa Rica.

Her film explores her ancestral roots in China, prompted by the loss of her grandmother who spoke a dialect she couldn't understand. 

The celebration of cinema will be offering 900 tickets available for various showings and 300 passes granting access to all 10 featured films.

Early bird tickets for the full festival are set to go on sale from December 26 to January 8, priced at £55, rising to £65 thereafter.