The new international Screenwriters' Festivalwill hold a Londonlaunch on Monday (January 30) to announce details of its inaugural event, whichwill be held in Cheltenhamfrom June 27-30. Screen Internationalis one of the sponsors of the festival.

Festival supporters who will appear at thelaunch include producer Gina Carter, BAFTA chairman Duncan Kenworthy,producer and Stoned director Stephen Woolley, and National Film and Television School director Nik Powell. Bill Nicholson, writer of films including Shadowlands andGladiator, will deliver a speech about working as a team screenwriter in Hollywood.

Training body Aristahas come on board as a festival sponsor, alongside organizations including SWScreen, Wiggin, the Learning and Skills Council,Gloucestershire Media Group, Cheltenham Film Studios, Cheltenham Council, and Arturi Films. Arista's Stephen Cleary also joins the board.

"Stephen Clearyand Aristawill provide yet more strength to ouralready distinguished Board todeliverthis great and much needed Festival," said festivaldirectorand Arturi Films producer DavidPearson. "We are getting some keen interest from a number of well known wouldbe sponsors which will help us expand the ambitions of the Festival to providean international forum on stories that travel."

The festival will be devoted to the art, craft,education, and business of writing for the screen, including feature films, TVand new media. The festival will welcome all genres of writing. Screenwriterswho have committed to the festival include Priestscreenwriter Jimmy McGovern and Gosford Park'sOscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes.

Julian Fellowes said,"Actors, dancers, even directors, work ingroups oflike-minded people in the nature of things and that gives them strength. Butwriting is a solitary activity and so the chance to communicate with others inthe same boat, which this festival offers,is not just a relief. There aretimes when it's absolutely essential."

The London event will be held atSoho House, which is sponsoring the launch along with Kodak and De Lane Lea.The festival has also launched a website at www.screenwritersfestival.com.