Carnivale organisers are promising families and movie lovers a feast of film at this year’s festival.

Mayor Val Schier has enjoyed outdoor pictures in a number of tropical places and is envious of her brother, John Schier, who runs Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema.

“It’s always a great night out there, under the stars with food, wine and company thrown in to make the experience even better. It will be a terrific atmosphere on the Sugar Wharf, with the lineup of different movie nights in the Carnivale program offering something to please everyone,” said Mayor Schier.

The movie program kicks off on Sunday 22 May with 'Meeting our Marine Neighbours', a cutting edge series of documentary screenings and talks hosted by the Low Isles Preservation Society and John Rumney’s company Eye to Eye Marine Encounters.

Scientists and film-makers will showcase four iconic marine creatures with world-class footage, slideshows, current research and entertaining field anecdotes.

Monday 23 May sees the 'Heart of Gold Film Festival', local and international films that express a positive view of the world and humanity.

Tuesday 24 May has a family program of animated films by celebrated Japanese film maker Hayao Miyazaki, with donations collected going to Second Harvest in Japan, a Japanese NPO that has active food-kitchens throughout the disaster affected areas.

And finally, on Sunday 29 May the action moves from the Sugar Wharf to the Central Hotel for the 2011 Carnivale screening of CAFF (Cairns Adventure Film Festival) short film competition.

Carinivale organisers are also calling for "an army of fit and fabulous volunteers" for this year's festival.

"We have an amazing street parade, a stunning beach day, we have a new and sensational dance party to kick the festival off and we have loads of other events we need man power for like the movie nights at the Sugar Wharf," said Carnivale's Public Relations consultant Mia Lacy.  "Volunteering to help us at
Carnivale might lead to all kinds of offers!"

If you'd like to volunteer go to the Carnivale website.