THE smallest independent cinema in the world is to host one of the world's biggest international film festivals.

The Blue Walnut Cinema is one of only three venues in the UK and one of 176 across five continents to screen the Manhattan Short Film Festival in September.

The art house cinema, which has only 24 seats, will be one of only three the UK to screen the festival this autumn. The others are the Curzon Soho in London and the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle.

Cinema owner Mike Edmonds (pictured) said it was the fourth year running the small venue had been selected by organisers of the Manhattan Short Film Festival.

He said: "When you see the list of venues, it's Milan, Paris, London, New York, Buenos Aires, then Torquay.

"It makes me very proud."

It is the 12th year the film festival has been running, but only the fourth since the event went global and started being screened at venues in the UK.

Mr Edmonds added: "The first year, the festival went outside America, the organiser was in London scouting for venues. We met and we struck a friendship.

"Last year he was actually amazed we took more money than some of the biggest venues."

As in previous years, the Blue Walnut Cafe will screen all 10 finalist short films every day of the week between September 20 and 27.

Viewers will be provided with voting cards so they can say which films they like most.

At the end of the festival, the results are all sent to New York from around the world and the winner is declared.

Mr Edmonds, who set up the cinema in 2002, said what made the festival stand out from the plethora of short film festivals around the world was that people, not committees, were the judges.

He said: "We've got a good reputation as an independent cinema and this is a wonderful event.

"The quality of films on show is superb. Some of the winners even got Oscar-nominated last year.

"Anyone with an interest in the film industry and cinema should be coming to see this festival."

The Manhattan Short Film Festival began 12 years ago when Nicholas Mason projected 14 short films on to the side of truck parked on a downtown Manhattan street.

A year later, the festival moved to Union Square Park in New York City which is still the venue where the winner is announced.

The Manhattan Short Film Festival will run from September 20 to 27.