Northern Ireland movie buffs are in for a week-long treat with the launch of the 9th Jameson Belfast Film Festival.

The event, which will show more than 130 screenings from over 30 countries, kicked off with the Irish premier of Little Ashes — a film which chronicles the life of a young Salvador Dali — last night.

Festival director Michele Devlin said this year the spotlight would focus on local talent.

“As the Belfast Film Festival grows each year, we are so proud of the fact that, as well as a strong selection of international and European films, we are able to showcase a burgeoning wealth of local film-making and acting talent.

“We have the eagerly awaited premieres of first features, the locally-made Cherrybomb and Ditching.

“We are also proud to be screening Pumpgirl starring local talent Samantha Healey and Geraldine Hughes and to be celebrating local legends including Davy Hammond, Brian Desmond Hurst and John T Davis, as part of the 2009 festival.”

Other stars lighting up the city include Sir Ben Kingsley and Nathalie Press, stars of 50 Dead Men Walking, the festival’s closing night premiere, and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley, Harry Potter) who stars in local feature film Cherrybomb, the festival’s mid-week gala screening, and James Nesbitt.

Comedian Paul Merton will bring his homage to silent comedy ‘Silent Clowns’ to Movie House, Yorkgate, and actor/film maker Crispin Glover will host a unique event at Belfast’s Queens Film Theatre.

Among the new additions for the 2009 programme is the ‘Jameson Sound and Vision’ strand, which will celebrate the role that music plays in film.