Mike Leigh joins some of the best-known names in the UK film industry for this year's International Screenwriters' Festival in Cheltenham.

The event (July 1-3) has established itself in the last three years as one of the key events in the industry calendar, bringing together business and screenwriters.

Leigh is enjoying another successful year with his Happy-Go-Lucky receiving both critical and box office success. The film's lead Sally Hawkins picked up the best actress prize at this year's Berlinale.

Leigh brings considerable experience to the festival with a career as theatre director, screenwriter and playwright as well as film director.

He is also well known for an unconventional approach to direction, which puts emphasis on realism through improvisation from actors in which he places considerable trust.

His masterclass will be a highlight of an event which was already boasting a distinguished set of speakers.

Previously announced contributors for the Screen-supported eventinclude:

  • Guillermo Del Toro (The Orphanage, Pan's Labyrinth)
  • Deborah Moggach (Pride & Prejudice)
  • Lucy Prebble (Secret Diary Of A Call Girl)
  • Jane Tranter (Controller of BBC Fiction)
  • Peter Kosminsky (The Government, Wuthering Heights)
  • Laura Mackie (ITV director of drama)
  • Robbie Morrison (Nikolai Dante, White Death)
  • John Tomlinson (Comics writer, including The Lords of Misrule)