SOME of the most acclaimed movies of the past year have been gathered together for the 2010 Screen Deva film festival in Chester.

For many film fans, Screen Deva will be the first opportunity they will have had to watch movies like Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, An Education and Nowhere Boy on the big screen.

The third Screen Deva Film and Digital Media Festival takes place from May 28-June 6.

Regional premieres of independent cinema, short films, animations, family matinees, environmental documentaries, silver screen classics, Film of the Book nights, rare opportunities to talk with filmmakers, secret location film screenings and the return of the region’s first 48 hour film challenge will make up the diverse film programme.

Programme manager Amber Knipe of Chester Performs said: “This year’s festival has taken a slightly different focus.

“We’re only screening independent cinema released in the last year, and cinema classics. We’re hoping this will make for an exciting festival that responds to our growing audience, and will invigorate the region’s film offer.”

Like the previous two years, the festival’s events will be showcased in a range of unusual venues in Chester city centre.

St Mary’s Centre will act as the festival’s ‘hub’, screening at least one film a day, plus a programme of family workshops and artists’ exhibitions on view.

Film highlights include:

Nowhere Boy - the 2009 John Lennon biopic about the legend’s early years will be given a special ‘Brunch screening’ after a breakfast in the Bear and Billet, on Sunday, June 6 at 11am.

An Education – A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, which won a Bafta for rising new star Carey Mulligan, can be seen at St Mary’s Centre on Sunday, June 6 at 8pm.

Girl with The Dragon Tattoo - based on the best-selling book and only recently released into selected British cinemas, is being screened on Tuesday, June 1 at 7pm in St Mary’s Centre.

Other films to look forward to include Coraline, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, All About Eve, Milk, Bicycle Thieves, The Red Balloon, Where The Wild Things Are and The Crimson Wing.

The festival, which takes place across the Whit half term, will also present a week long programme of workshops, artists’ digital media installations and a host of special events.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Friday, April 2). Matinee screenings are £5 for adults and £3 for concessions and evening screenings are £6 adults and £4 for concessions.

To find out more visit www.chesterperforms.com or ring 0843 208 0500, or visit Chester Tourist Information Centre.