The Northern Echo has launched a website dedicated to promoting foreign, independent and alternative film across the region.

The website Alternative Film, features previews, reviews, interviews and profiles of directors.

It has competitions, useful links and a feedback section. Many articles by Steve Pratt, film writer at The Northern Echo, are archived on the site.

New media editor Sheelagh Caygill said: "There are lots of cinemas such as the Darlington Arts Centre, The Tyneside, and Middlesbrough UGC which are showing non-mainstream films, and we want to give these films a higher profile.

"We also want people to view this website as their site, and so we welcome discussion and reviews from filmgoers."

The site is currently featuring many films, including Touching The Void, a part-drama, part-documentary about the attempt made by Joe Simpson and Simon Yates to ascend Puru's 21,000ft Siula Grande, and the tragic events that followed.