FILM lovers will be able to get a taste of some of the hottest, upcoming directors from around the world when the Exit 6 Film Festival returns.

Now in its third year, the all-day event will feature 44 short films by producers from around the world.

This year festival organisers are looking to have a bigger presence around Basingstoke, not just with the screenings but film-related memorabilia dotted around the town centre.

Exit6 festival director, Mark Brennan, said there is a real buzz around this year’s festival and the standard in submissions has gone through the roof.

He said: “You can expect to see some familiar faces in some of the films this year.

“The festival has really grown and people within the industry are starting to talk about it. I was at a networking event in London and I was speaking to a female director from LA and she said she had heard about the festival at a BAFTA event out in LA which is crazy.”

The films being screened include the Judge’s Six - which are the six films in competition for the Best Film Award. The winner will be chosen by TV and film actor Burn Gorman, who is well-known for his role in BBC’s Torchwood as well as blockbusters such as The Dark Knight Rises.

This year’s festival is being supported by Basingstoke Together, the face of the Basingstoke Business Improvement District (BID), which aims to get the town centre thriving.

Lucy Boazman, chief executive of Basingstoke Together, said: “Events like Exit 6 put Basingstoke on the map for all of the right reasons. There is a lot of culture, arts and creativity here in our town and it is important to both commemorate and celebrate that.”

The festival will take place across multiple locations in Basingstoke. For more information go to exit6filmfestival.com/tickets.