London Film Festival is drawing thousands of visitors

Christopher Guest, co-writer of rock comedy Spinal Tap, joins British writer David Hare and Amores Perros director Gonzalez Inarritu at discussion groups.

They will offer their advice to students on how to write effectively for movies.

The event is run by The Script Factory, which is funded by the UK Film Council.

It also includes talks with Tom McCarthy, writer-director of The Station Agent; and Catherine Hardwicke, tracing the creative development of her film Thirteen.

There will also be live readings of screenplays currently in development as part of The Script Factory's first "writers' passage".

The Script Factory brings leading industry names from around the world to share their knowledge with budding film writers, directors and producers.

Its recent speakers include Spike Lee, Robert Altman, Anthony Minghella, Tom Tykwer, Ed Norton and Mira Nair.