This year’s Oxford Mail Senior Citizen’s Film festival closed in true cinematic style with a special screening of the multi Oscar-winning The Artist.

Cinemagoers from around Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties have made a beeline this week for the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, home of the annual festival.

Organised by the Oxford Mail, the Phoenix and this year supported by Sainsbury’s Kidlington and Westgate, the festival is open to everyone over the age of 60.

Those who attended carrying copies of that day’s Oxford Mail were treated to teas, coffees, mince pies and the big screen experience, and thanks to the involvement this year of Sainsbury’s Kidlington and Westgate, a few lucky individuals also got to carry home chocolates, bottles of champagne and £25 gift vouchers to spend at any Sainsbury’s.

Ron Etheridge, 78, from Drayton won a bottle of champagne.

He said: “I’ve been to the festival every day, it is just superb. I read about it in the paper so decided to come down. There are wonderful films and great hospitality.”

Christine Norburn, community ambassador at Sainsbury’s Westgate store, said: “We are delighted to help support this event. It has been fantastic to see so many smiling faces every morning.”