The red carpet has been cleaned, the trophies have been polished, and acceptance speeches are being prepared.

But who will triumph at the 2021 Ealing Film Festival? This weekend, the waiting will be over and the celebrations will begin!

When we launched our first film festival in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, we had to hold it online, because of lockdown restrictions.

So, we were determined to have a 'real world' event in 2021, to bring our talented filmmakers together under one roof in Ealing.

Festival director Annemarie Flanagan said: "This has been a passion project for us and we are so delighted to see it come to fruition. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped make it a reality.

"Especially the many hugely creative filmmakers who have chosen to bring their films to our festival here in Ealing, the heart and soul of film."

To make our in-person festival happen, we have turned a church hall at Ealing Green into a cinema for Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th.

It promises to be a great weekend for film fans.

We have received 269 films from thirty-six countries on six continents. Films from Iceland to Peru, from Trinidad to Iraq. But also, many from local filmmakers.

In addition to screening some of the best short films from around the world, there will be panel discussions with industry professionals.

It's a wonderful opportunity to pick up tips from established filmmakers.

The arrival of Ealing Film Festival has been welcomed by the former MP for Ealing North, Stephen Pound.

"Some people talk about Hollywood, some people talk about Bollywood," said Mr Pound. "But the real film capital of the civilised world is Ealing.

"Just down the road we have Ealing Studios. At Hanwell Library, Leslie Phillips and Kenneth Williams leapt naked from the shower in Carry On Constable. This is the home of cinema!

"But we don't just have a glorious past here in Ealing, we have a wonderful future. And that future is Ealing Film Festival!"

Find out more, Here.