MAJOR Hollywood actors Joely Richardson, Amanda Donohoe and Greta Scacchi, plus TV star Denise Welch, have pledged their support for this year’s Women Over 50 Film Festival.

It takes place in Brighton and Lewes between September 20 until 23.

WOFFF is an international film festival which aims to tackle the inequality older women face in the film industry.

Richardson, Donohoe, Scacchi and Welch have joined together to help WOFFF celebrate women over 50, in front of and behind the camera.

Women Over 50 Film Festival showcases older women’s talents and looks at what it means to be an older woman today, through screening films made by, or staring, women over 50.

It aims to start conversations between generations about ageing and to help end the isolation of older women.

Joely Richardson, part of the famous theatrical Redgrave dynasty and star of Hollywood movies including 101 Dalmatians and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, has spoken of her support for the festival.

She said: “It’s so wonderful that the film industry has started to embrace women of all ages, and especially women in their vintage years.

“Ageism and sexism hopefully are relics of a bygone era. Actors are storytellers, and stories of older women are magnificent - for those extra years! How wonderful that this festival is putting this in the spotlight.”

Also supporting WOFFF is Amana Donohoe. Amanda’s impressive Hollywood credits include Castaway and Lair Liar, as well as appearing in Emmerdale on this side of the pond. She cited the lack of older women’s stories in the media as the reason she is supporting the film festival.

“I’m delighted to see WOFFF is in its 4th year” Amanda said. “Our age group is seriously under-represented in almost all media, unless they’re sexualising us or telling us to buy something to make us look younger! Women over 50 have fascinating stories to tell. We always have.”

Actress Greta Scacchi, star of Versailles and War and Peace, has been a long-time supporter of WOFFF, particularly because it tackles the discrimination older women face in the media.

Greta said: “I’m proud to have been an early supporter of the Women Over Fifty Film Festival.”

The Festival launch will take place on 20 September at Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton.

The WOFFF Festival then moves to its new home at Depot, Lewes, on 22 and 23 September