Artist Colin Andrews from Kinghorn intends to make a film based on the pioneering flight by the 18th century Italian balloonist Vincenzo Lunardi.

Lunardi completed the first manned ballon flight in Scotland on October 5, 1785, flying across the Forth and landing at Coaltown of Callange where there is a commemorative plaque.

Lunardi Place in Cupar was also named in his honour.

Piloted by a professional balloonist, Mr Andrews will follow Lunardi's flightpath as closely as possible, filming from the ground as well as the air.

Additional footage will come from a microlight which will be used to follow the exact path taken by Lunardi.

The film of the flight will then be shown during the festival, being held from October 10-25.

Mr Andrews said: "I was inspired by the audacity and bravado of Lunardi's voyage, and his pioneering spirit in putting his life on the line."

The balloon venture was selected as the recipient of a Visual Arts Award established by the organisers of the arts festival, Cupar Arts & Heritage Project (CAHP).

Following the success of last year's inaugural festival, a wide-ranging and vibrant programme has been organised.

Invited artists are Dundee-based duo Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion, who will be bringing their large-scale video work 'Genus' to the old St Columba's school.

More than 30 professional visual artists from both the local area and further afield will be creating projects specifically for the festival, drawing attention to the town's unique character and heritage.

Music headliners this year, Aberfeldy, are one of the gems of the Scottish music scene.

Joining them in a packed music programme are The Hazey Janes, James Yorkston, Boogalusa, and Findo Gask, as well as local favourites The Moonzie Allstars among others.

The festival programme will also include a number of children's events and workshops which were very popular last year.

As well as making good use of Cupar's excellent infrastructure of community-use facilities such as the Corn Exchange, Elmwood College and the YMCA, the group is also grateful to a number of people this year who have donated the temporary use of premises for festival exhibitions and events.

CAHP also now has premises at 6 Crossgate which will serve as an information point and box office.

The shop will at first open at specified times, building up to more frequent opening hours as the festival approaches.

Information about this year's festival programme is currently being updated on the CAHP website at www.cupararts.org, with the entire music programme having already been posted (although tickets do not go on sale until the end of August).

The Fife Herald is the official media partner of Cupar Arts Festival.