Film enthusiasts can book their tickets now for the inaugural Kingston International Film Festival (KIFF) running from June 24 - 26 June.

The 99 films shown across five venues in three days poses as the perfect celebration of the creative arts and guarantees to have something fitting for all.

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 festival will feature workshops and events alongside screenings of shortlisted and award-winning films with the overall aim of helping to support independent production companies and film makers - both established and up-and-coming.

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

Artist Sky High's mural marking the Kingston Independent Film Festival

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.

In an opinion piece for the Guardian earlier this year, KIFF patron 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"."

The festival will conclude on Sunday with a special award ceremony where prizes will be given out across eight categories:

• U18 Short Film

The winner will be awarded a mentorship with the KIFF team, as well as a 2 week internship with a production, either on location or in-studio.

• Short Screenplay UK

KIFF will fund and work with the winner to bring their film to the big screen. This award is only open to UK residents.

• Student Short Film

Prize money of £250

• First Feature Film

Prize money of £1000

• Short Film

Prize money of £500

• Feature Film

Prize money of £1500

• Documentary

Prize money of £750

• The Eadweard Muybridge Prize

Prize money of £500

To view KIFF's full festival programme with further information on each of the viewings across the three days and tickets, click here.

Visit here, to view the full festival schedule.