FOLLOWING on its success last year, Bexley’s Anime and Manga (BAM) Festival is back for a second year.

The festival, from April 4 to May 10, features film screenings, many not yet available in the UK, as well as free talks and workshops on anime martial arts action, how to draw manga-style, Japanese food, and even learning Japanese.

And it is likely to have added resonance this year, in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The BAM festival has grown out of the Bexley Manga Network , a growing group of young anime and manga enthusiasts aged 13 to 19 who meet every second Thursday night at Bexleyheath’s Central library.

All the festival films will be shown at Bexleyheath Cineworld, the Showcase Cinema Bluewater and Greenwich Picture House.

The festival begins on Monday (4th)at Crayford library hall in Crayford Road, Crayford, from 6pm to 8pm with Atsuko’s Kitchen, a workshop on creating Japanese-style lunch boxes, which people can make and take home in their own bento box.

This is followed by one of the first English screenings of Trigun Badlands Rumble a sci-fi/wild west anime on April 7 at Bluewater at 6.15pm.

The festival closes at Bluewater on May 10 with Redline, considered to be one of the most important anime films for years.

To find out more about the festival and get a programme email bam@bexley.gov.uk or follow the festival on Facebook, search BAM Festival.

To book a place at any of the events or films call 01322 356320 from 9.30am to 5pm, on weekdays and 9.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday.

Film screenings cost £3 per person and there is a £1 charge for booking by credit card. Age restrictions apply to some films.

Bexley libraries also have an extensive range of Manga publications with a catalogue available online to library members.

To see what is available or find out more about Bexley Manga Network go to bexley.gov.uk./libraries and click on Bex-L