A chill blast of Russian winter came to Bridport Arts Centre for the launch of this year's Page to Screen film festival.

But the only ice was in the special cocktails made from West Dorset Black Cow vodka, to go with the Cossack style hats sported by supporters who attended the event.

The Russian theme was to link with the big-screen showing of the film adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.

The festival, with the Arts Centre and the Electric Palace as venues, which takes place from April 10 to 14 is unigue in featuring novels which have been transformed into film.

Welcoming people to the launch Arts Centre director Polly Gifford said that one of the themes of the festival this year would be the role of the producer.

“We don't very often shine a light on what the producer does,” she added.

Ms Gifford said that for the first time Page to Screen would be going “on location” and showing the horror/thriller classic The Shining at the Burton Cliff Hotel at Burton Bradstock.

The 1980 film starring Jack Nicholson is set in an isolated hotel in the off-season.

“We are being given the run of the hotel, at night!,” she said.

“It is the first time we have held an off-site event and it should be fantastic fun.”

Ms Gifford also thanked the Page to Screen committee for their work.

“Everyone gives their time voluntarily to make this festival happen, “ she said.

Programme details for this year's festival have now been released and include a special preview screening of the new vampire thrilled Byzantium. Film producer Stephen Woolley, who also made The Crying Game and Made in Dagenham will discuss Byzantium, which stars Saoirse Ronan and Gemma Arterton as a mother-daughter vampire duo who wreak havoc on an unsuspecting English seaside community.

Joe Dunthorne, this year's guest curator and author of novels 'Submarine' and 'Wild Abandon', said: “With a career spanning 30 years, Stephen is a British film producing legend and we are delighted to welcome him to this year's From .”

Mr Dunthorne will introduce a screening of the 2010 coming-of-age comedy drama film 'Submarine', adapted from his own book and directed by Richard Ayoade. Other highlights include Hitchcock, about the making of Psycho, linked with the closing event Psychopoetica.

The festival's 'Flash-Film' competition is now open, giving filmmakers under the age of 25 the opportunity to make a 60 second adaptation from any literary source.

More details and a festival blog can be found at frompagetoscreen.org.uk