SCOTTISH ACTOR Billy Boyd, famous for his role in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, visited Dundee Contemporary Arts for the opening of Discovery Scotland’s International Film Festival for children and young people.

In its third year, the film festival is again bringing films, events and special guests to DCA.

The festival showcases the very best of national and international film for and by children and young people. It features gala events, public and school screenings, workshops and discussions.

As patron of the film festival, Billy Boyd was at DCA on Saturday to attend the gala opening and talk to young festivalgoers after they took part in workshops.

Billy has been an actor for six years and is internationally known for his role as Pippin Took in the Rings trilogy.

Joining him for photographs outside DCA was Pinkie, the festival’s six-foot furry pink elephant, and some of the children who had been taking part in a workshop earlier in the day.

“Discovery promises to be a real dynamic force for children’s screen culture in Scotland and continues to bring international films to new audiences of young people,” Billy said.

“Discovery 2006 offers families the perfect balance of delight, entertainment and education. The supporting workshops and events will give real opportunities for young people to ‘Discover’ and be inspired by the world of the big screen and the moving image.

“Don’t miss a moment. Watch, make, or just explore the world of film. This is an event you can’t miss.

“I’m here just to wander about and bring attention to the film festival, that focuses on films that wouldn’t normally be shown in regular cinemas, like a film that is made in Israel for example.

“It’s a great way of seeing what is happening in the film industry other than just films like say Spiderman—not that there’s anything wrong with Spiderman, I love it, but you know what I mean.”

Billy has recently become a father and was slightly apprehensive when asked if he was keen for his son Jack, who is five months old, to become involved in the film industry when he grows up as he thinks it is a difficult profession to work in sometimes.

However, Billy said he has been enthusiastic about films during his whole life, and that he loves to see children and young people excited and passionate about films in the same way that he is.

“I’ve just become a father and knowing how babies are and what you introduce to them is with them throughout whole of their life—that’s the way it should be with film.

“I think it’s brilliant to have kids making masks and meeting a big pink elephant and coming to see a film from the Netherlands.”

Dutch family film Bonkers opened the festival with a screening on Saturday. The film’s director Martin Koolhoven introduced his production along with two of its young stars.

The festival runs until Sunday. It will then visit a number of venues in Scotland.