London, England (CNN) - James Cameron's feverishly-awaited sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" has enjoyed its world premiere to strong reviews.

Hyped as the most technically-ambitious and expensive film ever made, "Avatar," had a lot to live up to.

But, as the credits rolled following the 3D epic's world premiere in London Thursday, it looked like the "Titanic" director's decade-long gamble had paid off.

There were whoops and cheers as portions of the audience gave Cameron and cast members, including Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington, a standing ovation.

Later, outside, among the excited crowd, much of the talk was about the amazing spectacle Cameron had created on the fictional planet of Pandora, which has been invaded by military forces from Earth.

"It was an absolute marvel and I am left in awe after seeing it," audience member James Howard, 23, said of the magical jungle planet that lights up with phosphorescence at night.

Click here to read more of this article.

Thessaloniki Film Festival turns 50

Werner Herzog at Thessaloniki

They might have been trained to ride flying broomsticks and mix potions but life after Hogwarts is still a riddle for the young magicians of the Harry Potter series.

With filming in the last part of the series –"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" - well underway, the cast of the multi-million selling franchise seem bound to look back and reflect on their nine-year-long magic ride.

"It was September 29, 2000," Daniel Radcliffe, now 20, told CNN with a hint of nostalgia about his first day on set in Goathland railway station in northern England.

"Me, Emma [Watson], and Rupert [Grint] had all traveled up that day in a minibus, and we sat on the back seat - which was undoubtedly my influence - pretending that we were DJs on a radio station."

Surely, not many of those present at that first shoot could have predicted Harry Potter's unprecedented level of success in the coming years.

Click here to read more of this story.

They are the deal-makers behind the scenes who make it all happen. We talk to "The Dark Knight's" Charles Roven and other producers to find out what their little-known but vital part of the industry entails.

Watch the show on TV

Showtimes: Wednesday 25 November: 09:30, 1730, Saturday 28 November: 0930, 2130, Sunday 29 November: 0630, 1830, Monday 30 November: 0400 (all times GMT)

Watch the show on the web

Watch "Block A: What does a producer do?" here

Watch "Block B: Yash Chopra - Bollywood super-producer" here

Watch "Block C: A modern way of producing" here

Melissa Buttigieg, 23, saw "Twilight" 15 times in the theater. Hassina Ford, 19, watched it on the big screen 10 times, and Aimee Murphy, 22, watches the DVD every day.

They were among the throng of overwhelmingly female fans who gathered on a recent evening in London with the aim of catching a glimpse of the cast of "New Moon," the second film based on the the best-selling "Twilight" book series by Stephenie Meyer.

The crowd - representing factions of both Team Edward and Team Jacob, referring to the two male characters at the center of the vampire romance saga - shrieked and screamed as the teenage heart throbs walked down the red carpet at the event for UK fans.

"Twilighters," as fans of the franchise are known, can undoubtedly match fanboys for fervor. But can they redefine what makes a blockbuster in Hollywood?

Read more by clicking here

There has been a resurgence of interest in horror recently, with zombies and vampires in particular colonizing our cinema screens in ever greater numbers.

As if to feed our renewed appetite, some of the genre's living legends are once again back in the director's chair delivering terror at 24 frames per second.

Check out our interactive featuring Wes Craven, Sam Raimi, George Romero and John Landis, including exclusive video clips of these titans of terror talking about the genre.

Spain reveres its flamenco tradition; Ireland won hearts with Riverdance. What form of national expression does England bring to the global table? Morris dancing - a folk-infused activity whose practitioners hop backwards and forwards waving handkerchiefs.

But what England also has is a genius for poking fun at itself, in particular its more eccentric cultural legacies. "Morris: A Life With Bells On" continues that gift in the finest traditions of "This Is Spinal Tap" and "The Full Monty."

The film's premiere in London's West End is like no other I’ve ever seen: The usual red carpet has been replaced by green Astroturf bedecked with straw bales, milk churns and a couple of dozen morris dancers hopping away. What is your favorite mockumentary? "Spinal Tap," "Borat," or maybe "Best In Show?" Tell us below.

Yet, despite a paltry half-millon dollar budget and a production base set on a chicken farm, ex-investment banker and first-time filmmaker Chaz Oldham managed to recruit seasoned talent including the venerable British actor Sir Derek Jacobi, French star Dominic Pinon and Naomie Harris, who joined the production straight from the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

The exceptional script of this British-made mockumentary follows a documentary crew on the story of Britain’s finest morris dancer Derecq Twist - a man determined to go beyond the boundaries of dance who inevitably falls foul of the ultra-conservative guardians of the dance.

International fascination with the film has been high, with 120,000 hits in a peak week on the movie’s website and fourth place from 248 entries at Seattle Film Festival. Hopes are high to lure a U.S. distributor on board.

The English are polarized about the prospect of morris dancing at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012. Some believe we should flaunt it, others would rather curl up and die than present it to the world.

Last word on the subject of morris dancing goes to Sir Derek Jacobi, whose talent in turn was discovered by another peer of the English acting realm, Sir Laurence Olivier:

“When you say ‘morris dancing’ usually people smile - never too maliciously but there’s a hint of malice behind their smiles. But it is so essentially English that the other half who are smiling are really genuinely fond of it and rather proud that its something that is so essentially English, nowhere else in the world will you see it, it’s ours and we mustn’t let it die.”

All The Screening Room's video from Cannes in one handy place!

French flair and talent
Past winners include Francois Truffaut and Mathieu Kassovitz, but what do French entrants have on offer at this year?s Cannes Film Festival.

Beyond the red carpet
With budgets from lean to luxurious, The Screening Room looks at some of the highlights of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

May means Cannes
Can the world's most famous film festival recreate the glamour of past years and draw Hollywood's elite in spite of the global recession?

Hollywood partners Bollywood
CNN's Neil Curry looks at the strengthening ties between Hollywood and Hindi film industry, Bollywood.

Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds'
More from Cannes as The Screening Room takes an in-depth look at Quentin Tarantino's latest offering, "Inglourious Basterds".

More on 'Inglourious Basterds'
Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino talk about their new film "Inglourious Basterds". CNN's Mylene Klass reports.

Searching for Sir Ben Kingsley
At Cannes it can be hard to find your interviewee amid all those yachts, as Neil Curry found out.

'Looking for Eric'
Soccer star Eric Cantona has become the focus of attention at the Cannes Film Festival.

Inside Cavalli's yacht
Myleene Klass gives us the high-life backstory of the Cannes Film Festival.

Behind the scenes of Cannes
Producer Katie Walmsley takes us on a tour of the hot spots at the Cannes Film festival.

Should filmmakers care?
After the home of a 'Slumdog Millionaire' actor was razed, CNN's Neil Curry asks Cannes regulars if they should care.

Filmmaker responsibility
CNN's Neil Curry reports on the movie world showing its compassionate side.

Is Cannes affected by the economy?
CNN's Neil Curry looks at how Cannes Festival keeps up the glam level in the recession.

Cannes Film Festival opening
CNN's Neil Curry mingles with the stars at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

The pornographic sex and visceral brutality in Danish auteur Lars von Trier's new film "Antichrist," generated outrage and disbelief from some quarters - with some going as far as to label the director a woman-hater.

Danish auteur Lars von Trier.

In an interview with CNN the 53 year-old provocateur and Dogme 95 mastermind says that he made the gothic thriller that tells the story of a bereaved couple who retreat to a remote cabin to deal with the death of their child as a form of therapy after he recovered from serious depression.

Read the story here, watch video of von Trier talking about the film at the Cannes Film Festival and look at images of his wierd and wonderful career.

What do you think? Is von Trier a woman-hater or an artist? Tell us below.

We've just posted a great podcast about Kevin Macdonald's latest movie, "State of Play," a Washington-based thriller about two journalists who uncover a corruption and murder in politics.

It contains a plethora of clips from the movie which stars the perenially classy Helen Mirren and features Russell Crowe plays old hack Cal McCafferty and young upstart blogger Rachel McAdams talking about the film, as well as footage of Macdonald.

You can watch the podcast by going to The Screening Room homepage, or click  here to subscribe to it.