THE LONDON LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL is coming!

The Tricycle Cinema in Kilburn is one of a handful of great independent cinemas left in London. This October it's playing host to The London Lift-Off Film Festival, a showcase of short films from around the world judged solely by the audiences that watch them. Every single audience member that buys a ticket to this year's event becomes a judge.

"The festival's awards structure is 100% audience choice; leaving the £12,000 worth of prizes given to the winning film-makers in the hands of those that attend and pass their vote.

"We wanted to make it a level playing field for student and professional" says festival co-director James Alexander, "and what better way than to give the audience that ultimate power. The split between the two is 50/50; the audience won't know which film is student or professional. The festival winner could be given to a professional from Brazil or a student from Bracknell, it's that unbiased!"

London Lift-Off is scheduling 23 films from all over the world including Brazil, Iran, Italy, and the US.

"It has been a mammoth task scheduling the films" says Ben Pohlman the other half of the co-directorship and fellow Oxford School of Drama Graduate. "We have had judges from film, TV and theatre industries in to help us whittle down from nearly 300 shorts. Our submissions team were given one rule and one rule only - Look beyond the gloss. High production values mean nothing to us, so long as we can see it, and that the acting and the story changes us in some way. The accolades are then decided across the three days of programming by the audience in attendance." "

It should be a great couple of days with a fantastic breadth of talent on offer.

The London Lift-Off Film Festival will be at the Tricycle Cinema from 10th-12th October.

 Festival passes are £18 for the whole three days, or £7.50 for each of the three.

Tickets are on sale at the Tricycle website.

Or you can call the box office on: 020 7328 1000