The Leeds Film Festival celebrated the opening night of its 19th year on November 3 with a gala screening of Terry Gilliam's Brothers Grimm.
Following the screening he told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We live in a time where distributors are so conservative and Hollywood dominates so much that the audience is being dumbed down every day.
"It takes festivals like this to reintroduce to a potential audience the kinds of experiences they just don't get anymore. I don't know where we'd be without them."
He may be keen on festivals but it seems audiences at this one aren't so mad about his film. Top of the audience vote so far this year is German film Merry Christmas, a heartwarming story inspired by authentic incidents in World War I.
Also receiving audience plaudits are Michael Winterbottom's A Cock And Bull Story and John Le Carre adaptation The Constant Gardener - but all that could change as the festival still has a five days to run.
This year the festival is screening more than 360 features, documentaries and shorts. Prizes on offer include the Golden Owl award for new international film and the Fanomenon Silver Meiles award - a European gong for best fantasy genre film.
Read our reviews from the Leeds International Festival here.
Read the Yorkshire Evening Post news story about Terry Gilliam here.
To book tickets or for screening details visit the official site.
