MORE details of Kingston's first ever International Film Festival (KIFF) have been revealed, including the eight prize categories that the festival's panels will be judging and cash prizes on offer for the winners.

KIFF was announced last year and counts Four Weddings and a Funeral director Mike Newell plus acting royalty Vanessa Redgrave among its patrons.

The new film festival will take place in Kingston for three days from 24 to 26 June and feature workshops and events alongside screenings of the shortlisted and winning films.

Kingston's Rotunda building, home to a large Odeon cinema complex, recently unveiled a colourful mural commissioned by local artist Sky High to mark the upcoming celebration of film in the borough.

The Rotunda will also be hosting a studio for the festival and will be a key venue for events along with the Rose Theatre and Kingston University's landmark Town House building.

The festival's aim is to support independent production companies and film-makers - both established and up-and-coming.

In an opinion piece for the Guardian last month, Newell warned of an "alarming decline in low-budget British independent films" due to rules over financing.

He stressed that without taking a risk on young talent, films like Four Weddings and a Funeral would not be made.

He wrote: "Somehow or other young film-makers have got to be able to raise enough money, and have enough independence, to make their first film.

"The danger is that these first films, which are the lifeblood of the industry, do not get off the ground, because they are too small to make much money for their investors."

Later, he added: "I was inspired by a film festival in Ferrara, in Italy, where young people were encouraged to bring in their ideas and scripts and films, and the festival tried to provide this "way in"

"Having seen this group of young people filled with energy and optimism, without a breath of cynicism, I realised there's something tangible festivals can do.

"Despite the fact that the actual making of a film gets easier each year that passes, it's all too easy to scare people, and we are aiming to do a similar thing at the Kingston international film festival (Kiff) in London for which I am a patron, which is offering awards schemes for young film-makers and mentorship programmes.

"On top of this, Kiff calls on the industry as well as government to support lower budget independent film-making because they in turn will help provide "a way in"."

Kingston International Film Festival: the categories and prizes

• U18 Short Film

• Short Screenplay UK

We will produce the winner's film. KIFF will fund and work with you to bring your film to the screen. This award is only open to UK residents.

• Student Short Film

• First Feature Film

Prize money of £1000

• Short Film

• Feature Film

Prize money of £1500

• Documentary

• The Eadweard Muybridge Prize

Prize money of £500