A HAWICK Film Festival is one of four events across Scotland to receive a financial boost from a national tourism organisation.

The Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, which takes place in the town between Thursday, March 2 to Monday, March 6 has been awarded £7,000 from VisitScotland in round 33 of the EventScotland National Funding Programme.

Founded in 2010, the festival is produced by Alchemy Film & Arts in partnership with Heart of Hawick, a venue and cultural regeneration initiative run by Scottish Borders Council.

This year’s programme will feature 120 films, including 24 world premieres, with over 50 filmmakers in attendance. 

The films range from Warsaw-based Karolina Bregula’s The Tower receiving its UK premiere, to the Scottish premiere of Rachel Maclean’s

It’s What’s Inside That Counts, which focuses on a group of rats addicted to the juice that powers phones and tablets in a nightmarish city.

Richard Ashrowan, Creative Director from The Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival said: “Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival has become one of Europe's leading international festivals of experimental film and artists’ moving image.

It is a celebration of some of the most creative, challenging and inspirational film from around the world. 

“Now approaching its seventh edition, our international programme includes feature films, experimental shorts, video art installations and live performances.

“The location of the Festival in the border town of Hawick lends the visitor experience a special quality of friendliness and intimacy, an environment in which filmmakers, audiences and volunteers all mix, generating a real outpouring of creativity and conversation. 

“The festival has grown enormously every year, attracting 1,000 international film submissions this year, and attended by over 50 filmmakers from around the world." 

Doug Wilson, Regional Director VisitScotland, said: “I’m delighted the festival has been selected as a funding recipient in the latest round of EventScotland’s National Funding Programme. 

“These funding awards for regional events provide invaluable support by helping them create an even more attractive proposition to attract increased attendance - not only from their local areas but also from much further afield.

“That promotes the venues as excellent visitor destinations and contributes greatly to the region’s economy - which is hugely important.”

For more information on the festival and this year's programme, visit the website: www.alchemyfilmfestival.org.uk.