Star players from the Bradford Bulls moseyed into town today to launch this year's spectacular Bradford Film Festival.

Bulls skipper Robbie Paul, the Volcano Lesley Vainikolo and team mates dressed as cowboys to celebrate the screening of a season of director Sam Peckinpah westerns which will form a major part of this festival.

A number of Peckinpah's classic movies, including The Wild Bunch and Pat Garret and Billy The Kid, starring James Coburn and Kris Kristofferson, will be shown throughout the two-week festival which runs until March 23.

But six-shooters will be swapped for swashbuckling swords tonight when the festival opens with the UK premiere of the classic adventure The Count Of Monte Cristo.

The new version of Alexandre Dumas's tale of betrayal and revenge has already taken the American box-office by storm and is expected to do the same when it opens here later this year.

National Museum of Photography, Film and Television spokesman Dean Loughran said the prestigious premiere was a great way to start what promised to be the city's best festival yet.

He said: "It's a real film lovers' treat. This year's strands, especially the screenings of unfinished films and the retrospective of Richard Burton, have brought us more of the international recognition we've been gathering for the past few years.

"We've also attracted more premieres and more top-flight guests from the world of film to the city than ever before - from Jack Cardiff and Freddie Francis to Ismail Merchant. It will be a tremendous two weeks."

Other premieres lined up for the festival include the gala screening of acclaimed director Mike Figgis's latest movie, Hotel, and the first UK showings of British film Arthur's Dyke and the epic Quo Vadis - which has been dubbed the Polish Gladiator.

Mr Figgis is due to attend the screening of his movie, which boasts an all-star cast including David Schwimmer, John Malkovich and Burt Reynolds, when it is shown at the Pictureville Cinema on Monday, March 18.

Themed events planned for the festival include the UK's first retrospective tribute to the late Richard Burton, called Lion of the Welsh, and a selection of Walt Disney's animated classics in a season entitled Drawing Power.

Where Eagles Dare, Hamlet, and 1984 will be among the Burton films being screened for film aficionados while Disney's Dumbo, Bambi, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Lion King will delight the youngsters.

Annual favourites include the wide-screen weekend starting on Saturday, March 16, when giant prints of Stanley Kubrick's 2001 and the Cinerama version of Seven Wonders Of The World will be shown.

For more details visit the festival website at www.bradfordfilmfestival.org.uk or call (01274) 202030.

Paul Deacon, Scott Naylor, Nathan McAvoy, Stuart Fielden and Robbie Paul are pictured in a pose for the paparazzi at the museum.