FILM fans will be able to follow their favourite Star Wars characters and train like a Jedi this month as the Bradford Family Film Festival launches today.

Bradford Big Screen audiences will be able to take part in a Jedi fitness session every Wednesday before enjoying the main feature film on show.

Introduced on screen by Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill, the film features British Taekwondo Olympic gold medallist, Jade Jones who puts everyone through their paces.

Public Health England and Disney UK’s Change4Life, Train Like A Jedi programme aims to inspire children to get active. It has been brought to the Festival in City Park by Bradford Council’s Health Improvement team and their Living Well Campaign.

Festival director David Wilson of Bradford UNESCO City of Film said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Living Well campaign team to be able to fuse film and fitness together as part of the festival. We think the audience will be energized by the excitement of Star Wars.”

Alison Moore from Bradford Council’s Health Improvement team said: “Combined together the 12 moves become one special Jedi training routine that help children learn six key sporting skills of technique, strength, stamina, speed, agility and mastery. We’ll have fitness instructors in City Park to help people master the moves so it’s guaranteed to be a lot of fun.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, the Council’s executive member added: "City Park is such a versatile space so everyone can come down and enjoy a fitness session and then sit back and enjoy the festival’s film offer.”

The Film Festival itself offers free and subsidised screenings in and around Bradford throughout August.

The Light Cinema, Bradford Classic and Bradford Markets are new partners this year and organisers are working for the second year running with Picturehouse at the National Science and Media Museum.

The programme includes family favourites such as Paddington 2, Early Man, and The Lion King, as well as a special singalong version of the hit film The Greatest Showman.

Picturehouse Bradford is hosting reduced rate screenings of two IMAX 3D documentaries, A Beautiful Planet and Dream Big: Engineering Our World.

The Light Cinema will be screening reduced rate films every weekday as part of the festival - with titles to be announced each week.

Clayton Community Cinema is also joining the festival again this year and Bradford Classic will be bringing family favourite, Love Bug to City Park’s big screen. Bradford Markets’ are hosting a pop up cinema every Friday at the Oastler Market.

To see the full programme visit the website bradford-city-of-film.com/big-screen/family.