Hundreds of film fans descended on Oxford over the weekend for the opening of the Steven Spielberg Film Festival.

Some fans came from as far afield as Bath and London to attend the event at the Phoenix Picturehouse in Jericho.

Saturday night's screening of Jaws was a sell-out, with many film fans left disappointed outside more than half-an-hour before the start of the film.

Meanwhile, Friday's opening presentation of Duel - Spielberg's first movie - attracted a similarly enthusiastic audience.

Today's matinee of ET: The Extra Terrestrial attracted a large number of families, with many parents bringing their children to see the much-loved classic they first saw themselves more than 25 years ago.

George Pearson, 35, travelled all the way from Bath to see Jaws.

He said: "I love this film. When I saw on the Internet that it was playing, I thought I would come along. It was a fantastic atmosphere."

Silke Schoeling, 35, travelled from London for the special presentation of Spielberg's monster hit. She said: "It was great to see the original 1975 print of the film. That was reaIly cool."

Steve Chance, 43, of Bicester, a big Jaws fan, provided the cinema with an exhibition of his Jaws memorabilia - ranging from a very rare signed copy of the final shooting script to a lifesize shark's head.

On Friday night, the newly crowned Miss Oxford, Lyndsay Fayle, added a touch of glamour to the festival's opening night.

The festival, co-sponsored by the Oxford Mail and the Phoenix cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, is a week-long celebration of the director's best-loved films.

It comes ahead of the release this Thursday of the hugely anticipated new Indiana Jones movie: The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull.

Phoenix manager Suzy Sheriff said: "It's great that even after 33 years, Jaws can still sell out a cinema. And the audience were so much fun as well. They really got into the spirit of the night."

Jeremy Smith, entertainments editor for the Oxford Mail, said: "We gave out inflatable sharks to the audience at the beginning, and it was great to see people walking out of the cinema at the end, holding on to their sharks so proudly."

The festival continues until Thursday, with Close Encounters of the Third Kind showing tomorrow night at 8.45pm, Saving Private Ryan on Tuesday at 8.30pm, The Color Purple on Wednesday at 8.30pm and, closing the festival, Schindler's List on Thursday at 8.30pm.

Cut out your Spielberg Festival coupon every day in the Oxford Mail and get in for half-price. For details, call 0871 7042062.