Digital Art Festival in Shepton

The famous 'rock flock' have got into the spirit by wearing pink headphones

An exciting-week long Digital Arts Festival featuring a Hollywood film director and a TV star is coming to Shepton Mallet.

The historic market town will be host to one of the UK's only community Digital Arts Festivals - an exciting week-long programme showcasing some of Somerset and Bristol's best talents, and looking for emerging digital artists, film-makers and photographers.

Based largely in the town's Academy theatre, it will include films, art installations, workshops and lectures by experts as well as a music night.

The contest will be judged by renowned Somerset film-maker Edgar Wright (of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame); Duncan Pow (Linden Cullen in BBC's Holby City); film-makers Dominic Weston and Jayne Chard as well as theatre manager Peter Wild.

Digital sheep

Conceived and run by a team of volunteer artists and business people from the area, the event takes place from 26 - 31 October.

It has been backed with funds by Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, South West Screen, Shepton 21 and individual business donations.

This solograph photograph of Clifton suspension bridge was used by Nasa

Councillor Christine Lawrence said: "Creative individuals and their businesses are right at the heart of what makes Somerset so different and so attractive.

"We have so many talented people who are looking for new ways of developing and producing their artwork. Digital concepts and techniques are just right for them."

Festival highlights include:

• An exhibition and workshop by award-winning pinhole photographer Justin Quinnell who will be showcasing his unusual technique
• Justin will also be making and projecting a solograph of the town - an extremely slow timelapse photo. A similar project of Clifton Suspension Bridge was used by Nasa.
• Documentary photographer Daniel Meadows will be giving a practical workshop as well as exhibiting his work.
• A screening of wildlife films, which aim to recognise Bristol's pre-eminence in the field. The programme will include the Golden Panda (Wildlife's "Oscar") winner Armoured Giants
• A host of prospective pop video directors will be filming at the band night, which will feature a number of local bands, including I Am Forever .
• A team of runners will also trace the outline of a "digital sheep" - the festival's logo - by running Shepton's streets and tracking their locations by GPS and photography.
• A digital art competition to find the best digital art.

Shepton Mallet Digital Arts Festival is partnered by Bristol's internationally-recognised Wildscreen and Encounters film festivals.

Festival programmer Dominic Weston said: "The festival is a wonderful opportunity to get involved and have fun as well.

"We'd particularly like to see emerging and new talents enter our competitions. They will give the winners a fantastic showcase for their work."

Contest judge Peter Wild taught fellow judge Edgar Wright art at Wells Blue School.

Peter said: "Edgar was always very focussed on what he wanted to achieve. With hard-work, dedication and talent, there is no reason why other young film-makers, photographers and artists from this area shouldn't achieve their goals too!"