THIS is my busiest month of the year with the Cajun Festival at the Milton Rooms this weekend, and I have been to another conference on cinema in the week.

The feeling of the conference was that cinema is in the best position it has been for so long and, despite all of the threats, we (the industry) are not doing too badly.

There is much to look forward to as we had some distributors showing off their products for later in the year. One was the new Alien film – I will watch it, but find them really scary in a Doctor Who hiding behind the settee style of scary.

The Cajun Festival starts on Friday the 17th at the Milton Rooms though there is an early arrivals gig at Sudaby’s. There are some bands who have played here before but all of who went down brilliantly. I love the Cajun Festival – such nice people and a festival of music and dancing. There are bands coming from all over the world and I am looking forward to meeting up with friends I have made at the previous festivals.

I have not been able to get to see any films this week, which has been disappointing, but there are times when the nicer parts of the cinema have to stay to one side.

I think I have finally bottomed out the sound system in screen one and we have had some maintenance done on screen three’s projector.

Films showing from Friday, March 17

Kong: Skull Island (12A and number one in the top 10) love it, but haven’t seen it yet though getting really good reports.

Beauty and the Beast (PG) on its release date I keep being asked about this one because little girls who loved the original animation have grown up and now have their own little ones to bring along.

The Time of Their Lives (12A) looks brilliant with the sort of International style of Shirley Valentine.

Viceroy’s House (12A and number four in the top 10) showing it for one more week only.

The Lego Batman Movie (U and number three in the top 10) for the weekend only.

Coming soon

Just when you thought the world was blue enough we have the last Smurfs film The Lost Village (U). The weekend of March 25 and 26 has preview showings with general release the following week.

In this story Smurfette and friends are on an exciting race through the forbidden forest and discover the biggest secret in Smurf land.

Stage shows

Our next stage show is Madama Butterfly on March 30, but that is sold-out. Twelfth Night from the National Theatre on April 6 has some good seats dotted about still.

I find it strange when the National Theatre does Shakespeare, but it is, of course, theatre, though we are expecting some new titles to be announced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

We will have these here and on our website as soon as we are allowed to release them.

Cinema times

The Palace Cinema, in Malton, schedule for the week beginning Friday, March 17: Screen one and two Beauty and The Beast (PG) 2D - 1.45pm and 7.30pm Friday to Thursday; 11am Saturday and Sunday. 3D - 5pm Friday, Monday to Thursday; 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday.

Kong: Skull Island (12A) 2D - 4.45pm and 7.45pm Friday to Thursday.

The LEGO Batman Movie (U) 2D - 11am and 2pm Saturday; 2pm Sunday.

The Time Of Their Lives (12A) 2pm Friday, Monday to Thursday.

Screen three Kong: Skull Island (12A) 2D - 1.30pm Friday, Monday to Thursday; 1.15pm Saturday and Sunday.

The LEGO Batman Movie (U) 2D - 11am Sunday.

The Time Of Their Lives (12A) 3.50pm and 8pm Friday, Monday to Thursday; 5.45pm and 8pm Saturday and Sunday (Tuesday screen at 3.50pm is subtitled for the hard of hearing) Viceroy’s House (12A) 5.55pm Friday, Monday to Thursday; 3.30pm Saturday and Sunday.