Film enthusiasts can see over a hundred different interpretations of Stuff from the Streets by independent filmmakers at this year's Portobello Film and Video Festival (PFVF). As Portobello forms part of Cannes' twin town (the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea), the PFVF will also show shorts taken from the 50 years of the Cannes Film Festival. Screenings will take place in cinema marquees at Athlone Gardens off Portobello Road and at The Gate Cinema.

The festival was conceived out of the work that Massive Videos, an independent charity-run production company, had been doing with film, video and music. The company was founded by Barney Platts Mills [a film director whose Bronco Bullfrog won at Cannes in the 60s] with the help of Ghanim Shubber in December 1994. Essentially, Massive grew from the help they gave to their friend Courttia Newland with developing the script and shooting the film of his recently published book, Scholar. As they began building a team, other members started producing their own projects, and before long they were looking for a venue to show their work.

Ghanim Shubber, explains: "Although the idea began as a venue for the Massive crew's projects, it soon developed into a festival which effectively acts as a springboard for all independent filmmakers to show their work." Months prior to the event, the organisers had advertised in the media for new material to be sent to Massive for inclusion in the festival. As everything they receive is shown, the festival is certainly the perfect venue for the amateur filmmaker.

Alongside the already established alternative cinema groups - Exploding Cinema, Sphinx, Peeping Toms - training schools, institutions and the general public all sent in their reels or videos for the festival. Last year the festival screened a total of 160 films, and this year a similar turn out is expected.

Ghanim clarifies the Massive ethos: "As we are a democratic organisation, we do not compete with other alternative film groups. We believe competition is counter-productive, because there is always an element of stabbing someone in the back. The real way forward is by helping and co-operating with each other - which helps give people a better chance of achieving their ambitions."