A FILM critic is preparing to head to Cannes for the internationally renowned film festival.

Movie expert Joshua Hammond will fly to the French Riviera city, which is famous for the hundreds of celebrities that descend on it every year, to see films expected to be the must see box office hits of the year.

The 22-year-old, who lives in Billington, has been running a website called Picture Show for almost two years as a platform to let people know his thoughts on the blockbusters he has seen as well as freelance writers’ views.

He said he was most looking forward to seeing Only God Forgives, starring Ryan Gosling, and the new Coen brothers film Inside Llewyn Davis, which features Justin Timberlake.

Joshua, who has a degree in English literature from Cardiff University, said: “I am terrified but really looking forward to going.

“I really wanted to go to the Cannes Film Festival over all the others because it has got a massive heritage about it.

“It is one of the oldest and biggest film festivals in the world and for years it has been a goal of mine to go.”

The festival runs from May 15 to May 26.

It has been announced that Oscar winner Nicole Kidman will sit on this year’s panel alongside American film director Steven Spielberg.

Joshua, who is also looking forward to starting a masters degree in journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, said he would be keeping a daily blog during his time at the festival.

He said: “I have known for a long time that I would like to be a film critic. I am really looking forward to seeing as many movies as I can.”

Follow Joshua’s adventures in Cannes on Twitter @pictureshowmag.