Author: whatsonni

Highlights include 25 premieres, including three world-first screenings, 40th anniversary screening of Anne Devlin, In Conversation with renowned director Radu Jude and a host of new international cinema

Belfast Film Festival returns for its 24th edition on 31st of October for 10 days showcasing the best films from across the globe alongside some of the best from home-grown talent. The bumper programme has been unveiled and is outlined below.

Opening and Closing Films

Kicking off the festival perfectly on Halloween Night with the Irish premiere of Aislinn Clarke’s Irish language horror Fréwaka, produced by Dermot Lavery (DoubleBand) and Patrick O’Neill (Wildcard). Closing night (9 November) sees the UK premiere of The Wise Guy directed by Sam O’Mahony, produced by Leon Coole and executive produced by Belfast-based Out of Orbit Films (Ordinary Love, The Dig).

Ireland Focus 

This year’s festival is proud to celebrate talent from across the island of Ireland, and the mid-week gala screenings are jam-packed with Irish talent; Dead Man’s Money directed by Paul Kennedy brings together Northern Irish stars Ciarán McMenamin and Kathy Kiera Clarke; Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and Christopher Abbott (Poor Things) are utterly heartbreaking in Christopher Andrews rural drama Bring Them Down and Ciaran Cassidy’s award-winning documentary Housewife of the Year gets its Northern Irish premiere. One of Ireland’s most prolific actors will be celebrated as BFF presents Lalor Roddy with its Réalta award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Film in recognition of his many years of excellence on the big screen. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Pat Murphy’s astonishing film Anne Devlin, and the festival will have a special screening with a Q&A with Pat Murphy, Bríd Brennan who plays the title role and cinematographer, Thaddeus O’Sullivan. To celebrate 100 years of BBC Northern Ireland, the team will host a one-off, archive event in BBC Blackstaff Studios, Ulster Mirror. Additionally, Belfast Film Festival presents three world premieres of Northern Ireland Independent Films The UnHolylands, Beautiful and Loud and Clear and The Spin.

The Hearth: Industry Panel

Featuring in the programme is an all-star panel which will offer valuable insights on how to enter a career in film, with writer Stacey Gregg (Ballywalter, Here Before), actors Valene Kane (Gangs Of London, The Fall), Martin McCann (Blue Lights, The Survivalist), Jonathan Harden (Blue Lights, Time) and director Ryan Tohill (The Castaways, Dalgliesh), and chaired by Journalist and Broadcaster William Crawley.

This is one of a number of activities leading up to the December premiere of The Hearth, a co-created film project commissioned by Belfast 2024, a cultural celebration of Belfast.

Radu Jude and International Competition

This year’s guest of honour is none other than Golden Bear winning king of audacious satire Radu Jude (Do Not Expect Too Much From The End of The World) who will be In Conversation with BFF programmer Jessica Kiang on Saturday 2nd November. Jude will join Dorota Lech, curator and programmer of the Toronto Film Festival and award-winning Irish filmmaker Dean Kavanagh on the International Competition jury.

The International competition which enters its third year includes films from first and second time filmmakers from across the world. This year’s line-up includes Familiar Touch directed by Sarah Friedland winner of the Future Lion award at Venice Biennale, Universal Language directed by Matthew Rankin (Canada’s Oscars pick), Paul and Paulette Take a Bath directed by Jethro Massey which was nominated for the Queer Lion at Venice Biennale, the UK premieres of Second Chance directed by Subhadra Mahajan, and Windless directed by Pavel G. Vesnakov, To Kill a Mongolian Horse directed by Xiaoxuan Jiang which won an award for best writing and directing in Venice and Cannes Golden Camera nominee Eephus directed by Carson Lund.  The International competition also brings the Irish premiere of the The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire directed by Madeline Hunt Ehrlich.

New Cinema

There are Hollywood stars galore in this year’s New Cinema strand; Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain starring the director himself and Succession breakout Kieran Culkin; Amy Adams stuns in Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch, Rooney Mara stars in tense, wildly inventive kitchen drama La Cocina and Cate Blanchett is deadpan-hilarious in bizarre political satire Rumours. BFF24 will feature the brand new Mike Leigh (Naked, Secrets and Lies) film Hard Truths, the debut feature King Baby from dynamic directorial duo Kit Redstone and Aaran Shearing, Flow directed by Gints Zilbalodis Latvia’s Oscars pick, and perhaps the most exciting and pioneering US indie of the year, RaMell Ross’ deftly adapted Nickel Boys based on the novel by Colson Whitehead (The Underground Railroad). Cannes award winners Armand, Grand Tour and The Other Way Around will all have Irish premieres at BFF24.

Long Short Weekend 

BFF24 brings with it the sophomore year of the Long Short Weekend, where short filmmakers from all over Ireland descend on Belfast for a jam-packed weekend of talks, screenings and networking. This year boasts four in-competition programmes, four new Irish shorts programmes and a Northern Ireland Screen showcase followed by a producers’ mixer. Passes for the Long Short Weekend are £30 and give access to all shorts screenings, talks and receptions as well as a delegate pack. They can be purchased at www.belfastfilmfestival.org 

BFF Collaborations

Belfast Film Festival is delighted to partner with some of Belfast’s most exciting arts organisations and collectives. Belfast and Berlin based film journal and virtual cinematheque Ultra Dogme brings Now Serving, a programme of five experimental works of cinema by trans filmmakers to the Black Box, Shankill Screen will screen four short films at Vault Artist Studios in the Shankill Mission, Ghouls on Film will present a screening of Aislinn Clarke’s debut feature The Devil’s Doorway followed by a Q&A with Aislinn Clarke; and Anaka Women’s Collective and Northern Ireland Now team up to present Anaka in the Archives for a celebration of diversity in film archives. Normal Cinema Club is back at BFF presenting a screening of Conor O’Malley’s hilarious new comedy feature Rapworld alongside short Coreys. Normal Cinema Club will also host the annual BFF quiz alongside Best Boy Magazine in the Black Box on Friday 8th November.

Palestine Cinema Days

In response to the global call to action from their friends at Filmlab Palestine, Belfast Film Festival will once again be hosting a Palestine Cinema Days screening on 2nd November at the Black Box. This screening of Naila and The Uprising directed by Julia Bacha will be one of hundreds of screenings happening throughout the world in solidarity with colleagues in Palestine.

Art of Action

As part of the BFI’s Art of Action, a UK-wide celebration of action on screen, BFF24 will present three William Friedkin films The French Connection (1971), To Live and Die in LA (1985) and The Hunted (2003) all of which exemplify how his use of action and stunt work complements his pessimistic worldview and emboldens his status as Hollywood’s agitator/rebel.

Commenting on the 2024 programme, Michele Devlin, Director of Belfast Film Festival said:

“This year’s programme showcases some of the best of new international film alongside gorgeous new work from Irish filmmakers. We have a special 40th anniversary event for the groundbreaking feature Anne Devlin bringing the creative team Pat Murphy, Thaddeus O’Suillivan and Brid Brennan together for the first time in many years. We are proud to be partnering once again with our friends in FilmLab, Palestine, to present Naila and The Uprising directed by Julia Bacha which is one of hundreds international solidarity screenings taking place across the world on the 2nd November.”

Jessica Kiang, International Programmer for Belfast Film Festival said:

“Irish cinema is having a moment on the world stage, but is world cinema also becoming, well, more Irish? It sure seems so, from the spirit of resistance, rebellion and reckoning with the past that spices up our New Cinema international selection, runs like a current through this year’s International Competition from Mongolia to Martinique to Massachussetts, and is perfectly reflected in the anarchic vibe of Competition juror and Romanian Golden Bear-winner Radu Jude — the closest thing modern cinema has to a renegade mad scientist.”

Sam O’Mahony, director of The Wise Guy, which has its UK premiere at BFF, added:

“I am deeply honoured to have my debut feature, The Wise Guy, selected to close this year’s Belfast Film Festival. The film is a coming-of-age comedy/drama and, indeed, it feels the last few years in Belfast have served as my own coming-of-age as a filmmaker.  This city is an incredible place to make films and I’ve been lucky to have been supported on my journey by Northern Ireland Screen, who believed in this project from the start. I hope the film serves as a fittingly joyful and moving conclusion to this brilliant festival.”

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen commented:

“The 24th Belfast Film Festival programme continues to showcase the wealth of filmmaking talent we have here in Northern Ireland. Two locally made films take prime spots within the programme, Fréwaka and The Wise Guy. We are particularly excited that The Wise Guy, a product of Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme, written and directed by rising talent Sam O’Mahony and produced by Leon Coole and Out Of Orbit films will be the closing night film on 9th November. This is only the tip of the iceberg for Northern Ireland films within the programme, there are many more including Deadman’s Money written and directed by Paul Kennedy and produced by Village Films as well as a packed programme of short films from the island of Ireland for local audiences to enjoy!” 

Tickets are on sale today, Thursday 3rd October from 10am.  https://belfastfilmfestival.org/

Belfast Film Festival is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities and Film Hub NI. And proudly sponsored by Yellowmoon, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.

Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards welcomes two new art exhibitions for the month of October: Earth-Made, a collaborative exhibition between ceramicist, Patricia Millar, and textile artist, Ruth Osborne and Humans of Covid-19, a solo exhibition by BJ Olsen (Quarembroidery).

In Earth-Made, Patricia Millar and Ruth Osborne explore commonalities through the use of natural materials in textile, ceramic, print, colour and texture. The exhibition brings together new collections of work through sharing practice, materials and research. Underpinning all work in the exhibition is the use of earth-made materials and methods such as wild clays, earth pigments, natural dyes and inks, which offer dialogues across disciplines and explores themes related to, place, sustainability, traditions, folklore and heritage.

This process of researching and experimenting with earth-made materials is showcased as a “Process Lab” – within the main exhibition, which shares the artists’ techniques, processes and experiments. Earth-Made will show in the Georgian Gallery.

Humans of Covid-19 explores the artist’s experience of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as an artist, but also as a nurse. During the pandemic, BJ Olsen was not able to work, and thus turned to fibre art to work through the feelings of helplessness and fear. BJ began to share the artwork online which provided a small comfort to people across the world, creating textile art of the human condition, where digital culture and analogue humanity intersect.

BJ Olsen, Quarembroidery, is a textile artist based in Northern Ireland. Their work is inspired by cyber culture, expressed in a traditional format. This juxtaposition expands the work and creates a beautiful, palpable dimension to what most people have seen at least once on their mobiles in a social media app. Humans of Covid-19 will be on display in the Sunburst Gallery.

Both exhibitions open on Thursday 3 October and continue until Wednesday 23 October. Admission is free.

All are welcome to attend a preview event in Ards Arts Centre on Thursday 3 October at 7pm.

For more information visit; www.andculture.org.uk

Aspects Festival, Bangor’s celebration of reading, writing, and words, is just around the corner, kicking off next week with an exciting lineup of events for literary enthusiasts. Running from 25 September to 6 October, this year’s festival promises an engaging programme featuring top authors, poetry, exhibitions, politics, and more.

Poetry fans can look forward to two exhilarating Poetry Slams, starting with the North Down Heat on Saturday, 21 September, followed by the Ulster Final on Saturday, 28 September, both at Studio 1A, Bangor. The festival is also delighted to welcome Galician poet Isaac Xubín for the Galicia Exchange at the Imperial Bar, Bangor on Wednesday, 25 September, followed by the lively Festival Club.

A special highlight of this year’s festival will be Owen O’Neill‘s performance at Bangor Castle on Friday, 27 September. In his show Hold Yer Tongue, the award-winning writer and performer will present a unique hybrid of poetry and storytelling. This is not a stand-up show but rather an intimate experience of wit and lyrical narrative. Owen has won two Fringe Firsts at the Edinburgh Festival, Best Actor at the Off-Broadway Irish Festival, and the New York Critics Award for Best Play.

On Saturday, 28 September, acclaimed Irish novelist, Mary Costello, will discuss her latest book Barcelona at Bangor Castle. A 2024 Irish Times Bestseller, the stories in Barcelona reflect on the complexities of modern life and the darker sides of human nature. Mary is renowned for her earlier works, including The China Factory and Academy Street, both critically lauded.

For crime fiction fans, Andrew Hughes will present his gripping new novel Emma Disappeared at Aspects’ Crime Night on Friday, 4 October at North Down Museum. He will be joined by crime writer Brian McGilloway to discuss the suspense-filled tale.

Finally, the much-loved Bangor’s Ghost show returns to the atmospheric Bangor Abbey on Friday 4 October. This intimate evening will feature live music, poetry, and stories inspired by Bangor’s past, performed by a talented collective of local writers and musicians.

Speaking about the festival, Patricia Hamilton, Festival Director said: “We are really excited that the festival is starting next week. We look forward to welcoming award-winning writers from all around the island of Ireland who will showcase their work alongside local talent.”

For the full programme and bookings, visit aspectsfestival.com.

Historic Royal Palaces is bringing autumnal magic to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens this Halloween with a full programme of activities to celebrate the cosy season.

From conker tournaments to apple bobbing, welly tossing and hay bale mazes, visitors can enjoy classic Halloween fun while enjoying the gardens in their most enchanting season.

Autumn Activities

Enjoy an array of autumn outdoor workshops throughout half term, all included with a gardens ticket. Family bushcraft sessions will test mum and dad’s nature skills, visitors can explore paths with leaves crunching under foot and listen out for bird calls while discovering the garden’s biodiversity. Visitors will be encouraged to use natural materials, leaves, twigs, acorns and feathers to create a piece of Autumnal Art that will be displayed within the Visitor Centre during half term.

Scarecrow Parade

As Halloween approaches, the scarecrows will rise, taking their watch of the Walled Garden from 5^th October – 17^th November. Myths and legends will be unearthed and celebrated through the designs of this year’s Scarecrow Parade, with local artists engaging with schools and community groups throughout Northern Ireland to design, create and decorate a gathering of 27 scarecrows for Halloween.

No spooky festivity is complete without pumpkin carving, and Hillsborough Castle will hold workshops on 27^th, 29^th and 30^th October to ensure everyone has a jack-o-lantern to light on Halloween night.

Mini Food Fair

Local artisans will be popping up in The Walled Garden on Saturday 2^nd and Sunday 3^rd November for a mini food fair, offering their locally sourced and made products throughout the weekend, soundtracked by talented local artists who will play live music in the gardens.

Stuart Campbell, Public Engagement Manager at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens added; “Our family programming for the autumn season has been designed to connect families with the sensory beauty of the season, and with each other, through our beautiful grounds, nature, sights and sounds at Hillsborough Castle.

“Our Scarecrow Parade this year showcases the creativity of local schools and artists, who have been challenged with a Myths and Legends theme for 2024.

“There is plenty to get involved with at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens this autumn and the Halloween holidays, and of course all visitors can upgrade their garden tickets to include our specially designed family fun tour, which will run every day during half term.”

For more on Autumn at Hillsborough Castle and to book tickets, visit Halloween at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens | Hillsborough Castle | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)

The popular John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival returns to Donaghmore from 27 to 29 September. Bringing a blend of familiar faces and new talent to the Old Cross Arts Centre, the festival weekend is dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of legendary traditional Irish musician, John O’Neill.

Hosted by singer songwriter Malachi Cush, the festival is a highlight in Co Tyrone’s traditional music calendar, attracting top-tier international talent to perform, an enduring testament to the true spirit of Irish music in the area. Festival goers will be enthralled and uplifted by the unforgettable sounds of some of the island’s biggest names in folk and traditional music with the line up including Sean Keane, known for his unique and penetrating voice and captivating talent as a multi-instrumentalist.  

On Friday night Sean will be joined by Máirín Brown and Brendan Browne from the Galway band Backwest. The show will be opened by Brookeborough man, Brian McGrath, a gifted piano and banjo player who carries a stunning knowledge of the ‘old music’ with a distinctive sound that reflects the 1920s piano style, accompanied by accordion player Darren Breslin from Lisnaskea.

On Saturday morning, musicians of any musical prowess can attend a range of workshops for children and adults where they will be tutored by international performers who have a proven track record as teachers and educationalists. There will be workshops in singing, whistle, piano, flute, guitar, accordion, concertina, fiddle and banjo.

On Saturday evening, John O’Neill’s granddaughters, Niamh and Ciara McCrystal will open the evening for Lúnasa, one of the most influential bands in the history of traditional music.

Speaking about the festival which was created by John’s family through The John O’Neill Trust, John’s daughter Clare McCrystal said: “This year’s John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival programme includes a diverse range of musical talent which will appeal to all ages. From workshops to traditional music sessions and sets by some of the country’s most acclaimed performers, I am thrilled that the festival is firmly established in the traditional music calendar as a lasting legacy to my dad’s memory.

“As well as entertaining traditional music enthusiasts with our concerts, I am passionate about introducing traditional music to the next generation and our music workshops will be open to children from five years and older. This year we are also offering children a complimentary ticket to see the pioneers of Irish music at one of our concerts as I believe it is extremely important for children interested in Irish music to get the opportunity see these wonderful musicians perform.”

The John O’Neill Traditional Folk and Music Festival concerts take place in the Old Cross Arts Centre, St Joseph’s Grammar, Donaghmore, on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September at 8.00pm (doors open from 7.00pm) and weekend tickets granting admission to both evening headline concerts can be purchased for £40.00.

On Saturday, Festival Workshops, priced at £25.00 each, take place from 11.00am to 2.00pm in St Joseph’s Grammar, Donaghmore.

On Sunday 29 September at 3.00pm the Festival will close with a session in Hayden’s Bar in Pomeroy.

Festival goers can also enjoy an exhibition featuring the latest artwork from local artist Jim McKee entitled ‘Keeper of the Flame’ at the Old Cross Arts Centre throughout the weekend where there is also a full bar.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/jonfest

Follow the John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/johnoneillmusicfestival and on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/john_oneill_trad_fest/

The popular Ards Puppet Festival returns this October, bringing two days of puppetry magic to the heart of Newtownards.

Taking place on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 October, the Autumn-themed festival will welcome a packed programme celebrating animals of all shapes and sizes, through puppetry performances, workshops, and interactive experiences.

Organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council, this year’s festival promises something for everyone, from world-renowned puppet shows to puppet-making workshops and even a Puppet Petting Farm.

Listen to the Story Man, in Sea Legs Puppet Theatre’s gentle, musical adaptation of The Ugly Duckling and join Henry Clutterback and The Musicians of Bremen on an exciting new adventure in the classic fairytale of friendship and courage. Look out for the wolf in Banyan Puppet Theatre’s classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood, and whatever you do, have lots of fun when Granny has a sleepover in the brand-new show, Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

With cows, goats, pigs, ducks, bugs, and even a temperamental crocodile making appearances, the festival is set to capture the imaginations of children and families alike.

Throughout both days, festival-goers can also enjoy Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre’s rendition of Billy Goats Gruff and Professor Queen-Bee’s It’s Bee-Hind You, a Punch and Judy-style show with an environmental twist. Handmade Theatre Company will delight audiences with their Puppet Petting Farm, where families can interact with handcrafted animal puppets, and children can take part in puppet-making workshops to create their own puppet characters.

Speaking about the festival, Arts Community Development Officer, Amy McKelvey said: “We are thrilled to be running another Ards Puppet Festival and to be welcoming these amazing puppeteers to Newtownards, to entertain and inspire our young audiences and their families. It’s always a gorgeous event and we are super excited to meet all the animal puppets this year and welcome our lovely audiences back again.”

With a mix of ticketed performances and free activities, Ards Puppet Festival promises two-days of fun for the whole family. The festival is a perfect opportunity to embrace the joy of puppetry and explore the wonderful world of animals in a creative, engaging environment.

Ards Puppet Festival takes place on 27 and 28 October in Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards. To view the full programme and to book tickets, go to: https://puppetfestival.andculture.org.uk/whats-on

Belfast Film Festival returns for its 24th edition from 31st October to 9th November, opening with a Halloween night screening of Irish language horror Fréwaka, written and directed by Aislinn Clarke.

After receiving rave reviews at its world premiere in Switzerland this summer, the latest feature from the Belfast-based filmmaker is set to make its Irish premiere at the Cineworld in Belfast on the evening of Thursday 31st October.

Haunted by a personal tragedy, home care worker, Shoo (Clare Monnelly) is sent to a remote village to care for an agoraphobic woman (Bríd Ní Neachtain) who fears the neighbours as much as she fears the Na Sídhe – sinister entities who she believes abducted her decades before. As the two develop a strangely deep connection, Shoo is consumed by the old woman’s paranoia, rituals and superstitions, eventually leading her to confront the horrors from her own past.

Fréwaka is Aislinn Clarke’s second horror feature, after the bold and uncompromising The Devil’s Doorway (2018). Bursting with Irish talent, it features an all-female cast including Clare Monnelly (Moone Boy, Nowhere Fast) who astounds in the lead role Shoo alongside powerhouse Bríd Ní Neachtain (The Banshees of Inisherin, Róise and Frank) as Peig.

Fréwaka is proudly produced by Dermot Lavery of DoubleBand Films and Patrick O’Neill of Wildcard and was made under the CINE4 feature film initiative with the financial support of TG4, Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.

Director Aislinn Clarke said:

“Twenty-four years ago I moved to Belfast to study film and fell in love with the city. Belfast is where I cut my teeth as a filmmaker. It’s an incredible honour to now have my film opening the 24th Belfast Film Festival. In a way we have grown up together.”

Dermot Lavery from DoubleBand said:

“It doesn’t get much better for an Irish folk horror film than to be the opening film on Halloween night of the Belfast Film Festival. We can’t wait to present Fréwaka to our ‘home-town’ audience – we think they’ll enjoy a truly cinematic experience!”

Patrick O’Neill of Wildcard added:

“Aislinn has made such a unique and terrifying horror film – drawing inspiration from recent and ancient fears in our society, and it is such a great honour for the film to have its Irish Premiere at Belfast Film Festival.”

Belfast Film Festival Programmer Rose Baker said:

“We are thrilled to open the festival with Aislinn Clarke’s latest work. Fréwaka exemplifies the depth and breadth of talent audiences can expect from this year’s festival. We are centring Irish film in this year’s festival, with both North and South represented within a vibrant international cinematic offering.”

Tickets for Fréwaka go on sale on Friday 28th September with the full programme announced on 3rd October. For tickets go to https://belfastfilmfestival.org/

Belfast Film Festival is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities and Film Hub NI. And proudly sponsored by Yellowmoon, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.