Christopher Hampton, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Atonement, has been added to the high-profile line-up of speakers at this year's International Screenwriters' Festival, to be held July 1-3 in Cheltenham.

Previously announced speakers include BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter, Oscar winners Julian Fellowes, Guillermo Del Toro, Lucy Prebble, Deborah Moggach, Peter Kosminsky and Drama ITV director Laura Mackie.

'We have a programme that offers established writers and producers new opportunities, reveals industry trends and case studies of the best work around,' festival director David Pearson of Arturi Films said in a statement issued to the press. 'I expect more projects to be picked up at the festival this year and for yet more new partnerships to be formed.'

Additional speakers will include TV writer and producer Kay Mellor and psychiatrist Dr. Raj Persaud, who will speak on how writers overcome the mental challenges facing them to make great films.

The festival's delegate tickets go on sale this week. More than 600 filmmakers -- including writers, producers, financiers, executives and students -- from 14 countries attended the 2007 International Screenwriters' Festival .

The festival's sponsors include South West Screen, Cheltenham Council, Sky, UK Film Council, Skillset and C4.