THE best in French film will be coming to Malvern after a theatre was named an official regional centre for Gallic cinema.

The Coach House Theatre in Grange Road has been awarded the title by the Institut Francais du Royaume Uni as it prepares to launch its first season of films from across the Channel.

Chris Green of Malvern Theatre Players, which owns and runs the Coach House, said: "The theatre is now equipped to show films to a professional standard, and has decided to make use of this by presenting the best of French cinema to local audiences.

"France has maintained a world-class cinema industry ever since the Lumiere brothers showed their first films in 1895, and it has produced brilliant films of all kinds. Over the years French directors have created some of the most memorable films of all time.

"For British cinema-goers who love French cinema, it is not easy to keep up with recent French films or, unless they are based in London or belong to a film society, to see many French films in cinema conditions at all.

"The Coach House hopes to remedy this for film-goers in the West Midlands, and to provide regular opportunities to see French films, both new releases and classics from over the years."

The theatre will host three weekends a year at which a number of films will be screened, sometimes with a specific theme, such as genre, or the works of a specific director.

The first weekend is on November 19-20 and will feature six films, including Le Bossu, Le Diner des Cons and Le Dernier Metro.

As well as these weekends, the plan is to hold one film evening a month, and possibly in the longer term to organise week-long festivals with speakers from France or experts on French cinema.

The Institut Francais du Royaume Uni is France's leading cultural institute in the United Kingdom.

The initiative is supported by Malvern Twinning Association, which has established links with the French town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Anyone else who would like to become involved is urged to contact Mr Green or Chris Bassett on 01684 569011, or chrisb_mtp@yahoo.co.uk.