The organisers of a film festival being held in north Essex this week have hailed funding from the European Union that made the event possible.

The Colchester Film Festival is being held at the town’s firstsite arts centre from Friday to Sunday and will feature more than 40 short films and a number of workshops.

Money from the EU Interreg “Creative Urban Renewal in Europe”(CURE) fund has helped finance the project with the aim of developing the growth of the creative and cultural sector in north Essex.

This is the second year the festival has been held and the second year it has secured funding from CURE.

Festival director Tristan Syrett said: “The funding we received from CURE gave us the initial financial boost we needed to start the festival and gave us something to build upon.

“Without this investment and support we wouldn’t have been able to get the festival up and running and attract other sponsors and in-kind support.”

Over the three days, a programme of 40 short films including world, European and UK premieres will be screened while a series of workshops and master classes to give audiences an insight into the creative process behind film production and to inspire the next generation of filmmakers is also planned. The workshop line-up includes 15 leading film professionals including Academy Award and BAFTA winning producers, directors, writers and actors.

Colchester Borough Council is also providing backing for the event.

Portfolio holder for regeneration, Nick Barlow, said: “The passion and enthusiasm for the creative industries sector in Colchester is strong, and the film festival provides a great platform to develop these relationships within the sector, across the town, the UK and Europe.”

Visit www.colchesterfilmfestival.com for details or call 01206 577067