Film buffs are in for a treat with the chance to learn about the secrets of the silver screen in a series of courses that examine the art of movie-making as well as some of its greatest directors and successes.

Screen St Ives is running the specially selected courses. The community cinema, which operates at the town’s Corn Exchange, will cover a wide range of topics – from an introduction to film to a look at Hitchcock’s fascination with ‘the blonde’.

The first starts on Monday, December 2, 7-9pm and looks at camera angles, lighting, costume, props, music and editing and how these elements combine to produce a complex and dynamic film. The course will use film clips to show the techniques film-makers use and costs £10.

Next up is Hitchcock’s Women: the Blonde, the Brunette, and Mother Makes Three on Monday, December 9, 7–9pm. The course explores Hitchcock’s blondes from The Pleasure Garden (1927) to Marnie (1964), his on and off-screen obsession with actress Tippi Hedren, the influence of Alma Reville, his talented wife, and the appearance of his daughter Patricia Hitchcock.

Millions Like Us: Cinema and Propaganda in World War II is the topic on Saturday, January 18, 10.30am-4.30pm. This will explore the Home Front on film – the men, women and children left in Britain – using clips from feature films such as Millions Like Us, Went the Day Well, Brief Encounter, A Canterbury Tale and Green for Danger. £15.

There will also be a 10-week evening course about the Close Reading Of Classic Films. Taking place on Mondays from January 27, the course will focus in detail on one classic film each week with possible film titles such as The Artist, Vertigo, Psycho, Thelma and Louise, Atonement and Blade Runner.

Courses are being run in partnership with Cambridgeshire Film Consortium and Film Hub Central East but places are limited and need to be booked.

INFORMATION: To find out more and to book visit http://screenstives.ticketsource.co.uk. All courses will take place in the Tony Burgess Room.