I have a funny relationship with literary adaptations. Not that I don’t like them, au contraire, but I have this annoying habit [One of many. - Ed.] that if a film adaptation is looming I try and read the book before I see the film. Daft isn’t it? Is it so I can appear knowledgeable about the film ahead of time? Is it so I can judge the film against the book and get all haughty about it not being as good? I guess I’d be unlikely to see the film first then bother with the book so maybe it’s a matter of now or never? Who knows? Or cares, perhaps? [No comment. - Ed.] No matter... Of the two new release literary adaptations this month, I read John Boyne’s ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ some time ago (an amazing little book and a great job at a very tricky adaptation) but have never read Amanda Foreman’s ‘Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire’, the biography upon which The Duchess is based. My mum has though, loved it, and is very much looking forward to the film!

But they’re only two of the many films we’re screening in September: Walter (Motorcycle Diaries) Salles and Daniela Thomas’ joint effort Linha de Passe is an engaging and subtle drama about a dysfunctional family living in the outskirts of São Paulo; The Banishment is the long-awaited second feature by Andrei (The Return) Zvyagintsev, which will not disappoint admirers of his remarkable debut; South America is again represented with the Uruguayan film, The Pope’s Toilet (El Baño del Papa), a charming comedy/drama about one man’s hare-brained get-rich-quick scheme set around a visit by the titular pontiff.

We’re delighted to be hosting Take One: Action!, the UK’s first major film festival all about people and movies that are changing the world; ditto the self-explanatory Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2008; and “Mr President...” is a season of six films on American Presidents timed to coincide with Bush the Younger getting his marching orders.

And if you, like me, sat enthralled at The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in all its cinematic splendour in August, you’ll be especially pleased to hear we’ve brand new prints of the other two in the ‘Dollars’ trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More. Your ponchos haven’t had this much wear in years!