Swinton's Rain Dance Prayer

Actress TILDA SWINTON performed a little dance ritual before the start of her glamour-free film festival in Scotland this weekend - to pray for rain.

The Oscar winner has become so disillusioned with celebrity-packed film festivals, she set up her own which promises to be more low-key.

The Michael Clayton star founded The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams festival with celebrated director Joel Coen in her hometown of Nairn in north east Scotland.

The nine-day event kicked off on Friday (15Aug08).

And Swinton admits she wished for wet weather throughout the festival so more people would head inside to watch films in the former bingo hall she's rented out for the event.

She says, "I did a rain dance last night and it seems to have worked. What better place to be on a rainy August afternoon than in a cinema?"

The Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams festival will run until 23 August (08) and show three films a day. Entry to the festival costs $6 (GBP3), but attendees can get in for free by bringing a tray of homemade cakes.