THE director of one of British cinema's best-known youth films will attend a double launch party in the region on Saturday night.

Franc Roddam, a native of Stockton, will be in the town for the celebration at arts venue The Arc.

The event will see the launch of a CD marking the sixth anniversary of Modern Life, a monthly club night, as well as the start of the venue's Sound on Film cinema season.

Mr Roddam's first film, Quadrophenia, was released in 1979, starring Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Michael Elphick, and with music by Pete Townshend, of The Who.

He also directed films such as K2, War Party and The Bride, and devised the television programmes Masterchef and Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Music Made to Measure Vol 1, the Modern Life CD, has been put together by Stuart Bowes, The Arc's programmer, who runs the nights at venues around the region.

The CD features bands which have played the nights, as well as those scheduled to do so in the near future.

Pre-sales have flooded in from as far afield as America, Germany and Italy, and the first 250 names have been included in the inlay as a thank-you for their support.

The night starts at 7pm with a VIP champagne launch, followed at 7.30pm by an introduction to Quadrophenia by Mr Roddam, then a special screening of the film.

The Modern Life night will follow, with Pleasure Beach appearing live on stage.

A VIP ticket, for all aspects of the night, costs £12.50. Admission to see the film costs £4 or £3, and similarly Modern Life.

The Sound on Film season includes The Filth and the Fury, Elvis - That's Just The Way It Is, Velvet Goldmine, The Last Waltz and This is Spinal Tap.

For more details, contact the box office on (01642) 666600