This year’s St Albans Film Festival is set to be out of this world.

The theme for the 2015 spectacular will be Space, in line with some special science and sci-fi anniversaries.

It coincides with the centenary of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, the 30th anniversary of the film Back to the Future and the release of the Stephen Hawking biopic Theory of Everything.

The announcement of the theme comes alongside the launch of the festival logo, a spaceman holding popcorn, designed by Jack Wilson of the University of Hertfordshire.

Despite the strong success of the past two years, the festival is set to be given an overhaul this year, with organiser Leoni Kibbey wanting more involvement from the local community.

She said: “I am so excited about this year’s theme – and I’m looking forward to seeing how film-makers and film-lovers engage with and interpret the theme this year.

“In our first three years, we have established a reputation for putting on an innovative and ambitious programme of events and this year we are hoping to take this a giant leap forward and let the local residents and businesses take more ownership of their festival by putting on their own events and initiatives to celebrate film.”

Westminster Lodge and Oaklands College are already on board, offering interactive events.

The Herts Advertiser has also signed up as official media partner for the film festival, continuing a relationship established in the inaugural year.

Leoni added: “If you live or work or operate a business in the area, we are opening up the festival to you.

“It could be an ideal fundraising opportunity or a chance to raise awareness of your business, school or group.

“Edinburgh Festival started small with one person’s idea and now thousands of productions and events take place around the city I would love to bring a slice of that kind of energy to our city.”

The Town Hall will once again take centre stage as the ‘hub’ for the festival, and the central management will run the short film competition, a carefully selected number of events, the opening party and closing awards ceremony.

The festival will take place from May 1 - 3.

Anyone interested in putting on an event, however large or small, should get in touch with the festival at info@stalbansfilmfestival.com.