Moore will present a "surprise" film on the final night

Launched in 2005, the event pledges to show "just great movies" and "save one of America's few indigenous art forms".

The festival runs from 31 July to 6 August and features 70 films. Extra days and screenings have been added to accommodate ticket demand.

"We still can't believe it," said the Oscar-winning film-maker. "Clearly, people are dying to see a good movie."

"We're in the middle of nowhere and the people can't stop clamouring for foreign films and documentaries."

Guest of honour

This year's line-up includes a tribute to the late Stanley Kubrick, whom Moore describes as "the greatest American director of all time".

Malcolm McDowell and Matthew Modine, stars of Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket respectively, will be in attendance.

Scoop is the second film Allen (r) has made in London

Terry George, director of the Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda, is the festival's guest of honour.

The event will open with Pittsburgh, a comedy starring Jeff Goldblum, and close with Woody Allen's latest movie Scoop.

Organisers expect up to 75,000 visitors, a 50% increase on last year's attendance.

Born in Flint, Michigan in 1954, Michael Moore is the director of such controversial documentaries as Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11.