THE glamour of Hollywood came to Chagford last week, as the 'best small film festival in the world' returned to the town.

The town was buzzing with all things film last week as the third annual Chagford Film Festival took place. Comedian Tony Hawks officially declared the festival open on September 23 when he introduced his new film, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.

The festival was privileged to have both a Sundance Festival Award winner and a nominee introducing their films.

Flying in from Dublin before his tour of America, director Nick Ryan introduced his film, The Summit. Andy Heathcote and Heike Bachelier, directors of documentary film Moo Man took part in a question and answer session, and the film's star Stephen Hook was a guest at the screening.

Gareth Unwin, Oscar winning producer of The King's Speech, who declared Chagford Film Festival 'the best small film festival in the world', made his second appearance at the festival, introducing his latest film Zaytoun.

Chagford itself was represented by its very own internationally renowned harpist, Elizabeth-Jane Baldry, who performed a live harp accompaniment of her newly composed musical score to the iconic 1922 Dracula film Nosferatu.

The festival closed with a fantasy themed gala, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was the film chosen to close the festival.

Actor Ryan Gage, who will play Alfrid in the second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, introduced the screening and took part in a question and answer session.

A dragon operated by two puppeteers (pictured below left) provided thrills as part of dazzling street theatrics, while festival goers again had the chance of arriving in style in a limousine.

Sara Squire, a member of the festival organising committee, said: 'Attendance at all the events was up, most of them were sold out, and in our third year we are able to draw more talent and events.

'It has been a great week, with loads of good workshops and events, and a really great finale with the dragon, which was a personal highlight, as was Elizabeth-Jane Baldry's harp accompaniment.

'There is a lot of hard work that goes into it, but it is great fun, and while we are recovering from this year's festival, we are looking forward to next year too.'