def readlistfile(filename):
    """
    Read file as a list, each list item separated by being in a different line;
    Ignore the lines commented out with the "#" symbol as well as empty lines.
    """

    listread = []

    for line in open(filename, mode='r', encoding='utf-8', newline=''):
        
        li = line.strip()  # Strip the list items of the '/n' character
        
        # Append the line to the list if it doesn't start with the '#' character and if
        #   it is not empty
        if (not li.startswith("#")) and (not li == ''):
            listread.append(li)
    
    return listread