Why isn't the London Film festival as popular as Cannes

A.� The 45th London Film Festival, although it attracts a host of big name stars and directors, doesn't offer big-name juries or high-profile prizes. At one time, the festival was branded elitist; these days some critics argue over the inclusion of Hollywood blockbuster movies in the programme. It has little of the glitz that the Riviera can offer, and is said to be more about the people who watch films than the paparazzi. At the end of the year, the festival has always struggled to book notable new films which haven't already been hyped to death. The Baftas' recent move to the pre-Oscars February slot has helped - the studios now kick off their campaigns at the London festival.

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Q.� Which films will be shown at the festival

A.� The event, which closes on November 22, has seen the world premiera of Gosford Park., Robert Altman's English period drama. It has also seen the European premiere of Monsters, Inc., the new animated film from Toy Story studio Pixar, and Barry Levinson's crime caper Bandits, which stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett. Kevin Spacey turns extra-terrestrial in K-PAX, and Steve Martin is a genial dentist whose life is turned upside down by Helena Bonham-Carter in a black comedy called Novocaine.

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Q.� How many films stars have been brought in

A.� Current events mean fewer celebrities than usual - Bruce WIllis has pulled out. However, Robert Altman and members of his cast - Maggie Smith and Emily Watson, Derek Jacobi and Charles Dance, have been in attendance, and in all around 350 guests have been invited.

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Q.� Does the festival feature foreign movies

A.� It's said the festival is the best place in Britain to catch gems from overseas which often don't get distributed. Films such as Demons from the Philippines and Jan Dara from Thailand are being shown, and there is the latest disturbing offering from South Korean, namely Nam Gee-Woong's teenage Hooker Became Killing Machine in Daehakno. There is plenty on shown from Iran; Babk Payami won Best Director at Venice for Secret Ballot, a comedy about a ballot box that falls from the sky on election day. Freedom is a low-key drama about an Argentinian woodcutter which has been well-received, and the Mexican road movie And Your Mother Too, marks Alfonso Cuaron's homecoming after his hits in America with A Little Princess and Great Expectations. France has over 20 films at the festival, including works from Jean-Luc Godard, Eloge de l'amour, and Eric Rohmer's The Lady and The Duke.

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Q.� Which British films will be showing

A.� Me Without You is a bittersweet comedy spanning 15 years of friendship between Anna Friel and Michelle WIlliams, and veterans Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren and Tom Courtenay in Last Orders, adapted from Graham Swift's Booker winner.

America offers David Lynch's surreal Hollywood thriller Mulholland Drive, Larry Clark's Bully, Todd Field's New England family drama In The Bedroom and work by Richard Linklater, Waking Life.

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Q.� What are attendance figures like

A.� Last year, the total audience touched 120,000, an average bums-on-seats rate of 78 per cent. Tickets sales are good for this year so far, but like other worldwide events, the threat of terrorism may affect audiences.

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For tickets or bookings, contact the festival office on 020 7928 3232.

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By Katharine MacColl