Stars join celebration of 50 years of Irish film
As part of the celebration of the 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s, leading independent cinema QFT, in association with Jameson Irish Whiskey and Arts & Business NI, has dedicated an entire week to pay homage to 50 years of Irish Film. A host of leading names from the Irish Film industry including Katrine Boorman and her father John Boorman, actress Susan Lynch and actor Aiden Gillen, author Roddy Doyle and directors Stephen Frears and Bob Quinn will all be part of Green Screen: Irish Film Distilled which runs at QFT from Friday 19th October – Friday 26th October.
A packed programme of film, talks, workshops and music will culminate with the screening of the nation’s favourite Irish Film as voted for by members of the public. Susan Picken, Head of QFT commented, “Over the last five decades Irish Film has won almost every major award available and with 18% of all tourists visiting this Island as a result of having watched an Irish film it is fitting that it should be celebrated. Presenting UK premieres and new Irish films along-side the classics, this programme is the ultimate tribute to Irish film.” The programme is presented with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen, Irish Film Institute, Irish Film Board and the Arts Council Ireland.
The week will kick off with a 20th anniversary screening of Stephen Frears’ The Snapper – a film he describes as the best he ever made. Stephen will be joined by author Roddy Doyle and producer Lynda Myles for a post screening discussion. Irish talent is further celebrated in an evening devoted to the award-winning actress Susan Lynch. Following a screening of Nora, Pat Murphy’s 2000 film about James Joyce’s love affair with Nora Barnacle, there will be an In Conversation Session with Susan, hosted by Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen.
Bob Quinn’s Budawanny is described by actor Aidan Gillen as “a proper gem, a real one off and probably my favourite Irish film of the past few decades”. Aiden Gillen and Bob Quinn will be introducing the film which tells the story of a love affair between a priest and a young girl in a small island community off the west coast of Ireland. Another classic Irish Film Mickybo and Me is a perennial favourite with Belfast audiences, and will be introduced by director Terry Loane, who will participate in a post screening discussion.
Debut feature film by director Phil Harrison shot on location in Belfast and South Africa - The Good Man will make its UK premiere on Thursday 25th October with cast and crew attending. Whilst the very best of new Irish film talent is on show with screenings of films such as; Grabbers - Jon Wright’s Irish set horror which picked up Best of the Fest at 2012 Edinburgh International Film Festival, Natural Grace - winner of the Best Irish Feature Documentary at the recent Galway Film Fleadh, Pilgrim Hill - directed by rising star Gerard Barrett recipient of the Bingham Ray New Talent Award at 2012 Galway Film Fleadh, The Swell Season – music filled documentary directed by Nick August-Perna, The Enigma of Frank Ryan – an imaginative and creative documentary exploring a truly tragic human story, Sanctuary – a breathtaking debut from director Norah McGettigan and Jump – presented in association with the Foyle Film Festival.
Plus, there will be a special screening of the new film by Katrine Boorman, Me and Me Dad – an intimate portrait of John Boorman by his daughter which will be followed by the unique opportunity of an In Conversation Session with both father and daughter.
The week will culminate in the screening of The Best Irish Film from the last 50 years in partnership with u.tv, The Irish News and Jameson Irish Whiskey. Film critic Brian Henry Martin along with a panel of experts selected five films from the last half century and the public have been voting for their favourite at u.tv. All will be revealed at a special screening on Friday 26th October.
Apart from Green Screen the October programme at QFT is ahead of the game with a number of new releases hitting the screens that have been generating great excitement at Film Festivals all over Europe.
A box office smash in its native France, Untouchable has shades of The King's Speech and Driving Miss Daisy in its story of a quadriplegic white millionaire given a new lease of life by his unconventional black carer. Holy Motors is director Leos Carax’s first film since 1999 and follows Monsieur Oscar (Denis Lavant), a strange, shifty character as he goes about Paris in his stretch limo, adopting a series of different personae as he goes. A huge hit at Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals, Beasts of the Southern Wild, is a bold and brilliant achievement – made all the more remarkable as it is performed by a cast of non-actors.
For music fans meanwhile there is the World Premiere of The Rolling Stones-Crossfire Hurricane, direct from the London Film Festival. The Band will be attending this event and their Red Carpet arrival in Leicester Square, followed by this film, will be transmitted live to QFT.
Add to the mix two Bolshoi nights, two National Theatre Live events, art house movie Barbara, chilled out romantic comedy Liberal Arts and visually stunning Baraka and that completes another packed programme at QFT for October 2012.
For more information and to book please visit www.queensfilmtheatre.com