THE WORLD'S first film festival for women over the age of 50 opens today.

The Short Hot Flush Film Festival, celebrating women aged over 50 in front of and behind the camera, launches in Brighton.

More than 27 international short films will be screened and a debate will be held featuring industry experts and academics.

They will discuss why older women are poorly represented on both sides of the camera with a view to change.

Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Geena Davis and Maggi Gyllenhaal have all said there are not enough roles for older female actors, according to festival organisers.

Kristin Scott Thomas once described the lack of film roles for actresses in their 50s as "a disaster" and Juliet Stevenson said she spends "a lot of time playing not very interesting women".

She added: "They’re not at the centre of the action. They’re not driving the narrative".

A 2014 report by British producer and writer Stephen Fellows said less than two per cent of directors were female.

Writer and producer Nuala O’Sullivan and Maggi Healey, friends in their 50s from London and Brighton, founded the festival to redress the imbalance and appealed for film submissions earlier this year.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “The quality and quantity of the submissions was quite incredible. We had a massive 68, which for a new film festival is really impressive. It’s now clear that from the filmmakers’ point of view the over 50s market is there. Now it’s about finding out if there’s an over 50s audience for the films.”

Today's event will include prizes for best documentary, best drama, best animation and an audience choice award sponsored by the Duke of York's Picturehouse, Wragge and Co and Barefoot Wine.

The event, including the debate and short film screenings, will be held between 12pm and 7pm at the Exeter Street Hall today.

Ms Healey said: "We’re incredibly lucky to have award-winning speakers and judges, like the documentary maker Jill Nicholls and the actor Sophie Ward on board for our first festival. Jill and Sophie have years of experience on each side of the camera and will bring a huge amount of knowledge and expertise to their roles."

BBC Imagine documentary maker Jill Nicholls said: "I’m very glad to be part of this innovative festival, both as a woman filmmaker of over 50 myself and as someone who has made many films celebrating the achievements of older women artists, particularly Toni Morrison, Judith Kerr and Doris Lessing.

"And contrary to the assumptions of some people with decision-making power, audiences do not switch off in fear of contamination by their grey hairs but find these women fascinating - an inspiration to us all.”