Actress Greta Scacchi is spearheading a campaign to put women at the forefront of 21st Century film-making.

The star of Heat And Dust and White Mischief will be in front of, rather than on, the big screen this weekend to promote the work of emerging women film-makers.

She will introduce Birds' Eye View, a mini film festival, at the Duke of York's cinema in Preston Circus, Brighton, tomorrow afternoon.

The event will screen five of the best short films by emerging women film-makers.

Miss Scacchi's role comes via Brighton-based company Invisible Films, run by Rachel Millward and Pinny Grylls.

The pair have developed Birds' Eye View to promote women directors through celebrity-led screenings.

Rachel said: "While film is one of the most powerful means of communication in our society, only six per cent of directors are women.

"Of the 350 films made in Britain in the past two years, eight had female directors."

Rachel and Pinny, who both studied in Brighton, decided to try to break the mould by setting up a production company last March. The Birds' Eye View series was a natural progression.

Other stars to have introduced screenings include Sally Phillips, from Smack The Pony and Bridget Jones's Diary and Naomie Harris, of White Teeth and The Project.

Rachel said: "We always get very positive feedback from the audience, many of who say it is about time.

"People are used to watching films from a very male perspective. This helps raise the profile of women in film and makes people realise short films are good entertainment."

On show on Sunday will be The Girl In The Red Dress, directed by Aletta Collins and starring Shirley Henderson and Jenny Eclair; Fish Never Sleep, directed by Gaelle Denis; High Rise, directed by Gabrielle Russell; Snow On Saturday, directed by actress Imogen Stubbs and starring Nick Bradley; and Human, directed by Pinny Grylls.

The screening will be followed by a Directors' Guild panel event, when industry professionals will discuss possible routes into a career in directing for women.

Rachel said: "It would be great to see the directors we feature and women who are just starting out going on and getting proper funding.

"It would also be great if the public cottoned on to the fact short films are really worth watching. There is a lot of film energy in Brighton so it is a good place to promote women's work."

Tickets for Birds' Eye View, priced £5, are available on 01273 602503.