{"id":23299,"date":"2024-10-03T12:58:05","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T11:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=23299"},"modified":"2024-10-03T13:00:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T12:00:37","slug":"belfast-film-festival-2024-programme-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2024\/10\/belfast-film-festival-2024-programme-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"BELFAST FILM FESTIVAL 2024 PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED"},"content":{"rendered":"

Highlights include 25 premieres, including three world-first screenings, 40th\u00a0anniversary screening of Anne Devlin, In Conversation with renowned director Radu Jude and a host of new international cinema<\/em><\/h4>\n

\"\"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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Opening and Closing Films<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kicking off the festival perfectly on Halloween Night with the Irish premiere of Aislinn Clarke\u2019s <\/strong>Irish language horror Fr\u00e9waka<\/em><\/strong>, produced by Dermot Lavery (DoubleBand) and Patrick O\u2019Neill (Wildcard). Closing night (9 November) sees the UK premiere of The Wise Guy<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Sam O\u2019Mahony, <\/strong>produced by Leon Coole and executive produced by Belfast-based Out of Orbit Films (Ordinary Love, The Dig).<\/p>\n

Ireland Focus\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s 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\u2019s Money <\/em><\/strong>directed by Paul Kennedy <\/strong>brings together Northern Irish stars Ciar\u00e1n McMenamin and Kathy Kiera Clarke; Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin<\/em>, The Killing of a Sacred Deer)<\/em>\u00a0and Christopher Abbott (Poor Things<\/em>) are utterly heartbreaking in Christopher Andrews<\/strong>\u00a0rural drama Bring Them Down <\/em><\/strong>and Ciaran Cassidy\u2019s <\/strong>award-winning documentary Housewife of the Year<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0gets its Northern Irish premiere. One of Ireland\u2019s most prolific actors will be celebrated as BFF presents Lalor Roddy <\/strong>with its R\u00e9alta 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\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0astonishing film Anne Devlin, <\/em><\/strong>and the festival will have a special screening with a Q&A with Pat Murphy, Br\u00edd Brennan who plays the title role and cinematographer, Thaddeus O\u2019Sullivan. To celebrate 100 years of BBC Northern Ireland, the team will host a one-off, archive event in BBC Blackstaff Studios, Ulster Mirror<\/em><\/strong>. Additionally, Belfast Film Festival presents three world premieres of Northern Ireland Independent Films The UnHolylands, Beautiful and Loud and Clear <\/em><\/strong>and The Spin.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Hearth: Industry Panel<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/strong>\u00a0(Ballywalter, Here Before), actors Valene Kane<\/strong>\u00a0(Gangs Of London, The Fall), Martin McCann<\/strong>\u00a0(Blue Lights, The Survivalist), Jonathan Harden<\/strong>\u00a0(Blue Lights, Time) and director Ryan Tohill<\/strong>\u00a0(The Castaways, Dalgliesh), and chaired by Journalist and Broadcaster William Crawley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Radu Jude and International Competition<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s guest of honour is none other than Golden Bear winning king of audacious satire Radu Jude <\/strong>(Do Not Expect Too Much From The End of The World<\/em>) who will be In Conversation<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0with BFF programmer Jessica Kiang on Saturday 2nd November. Jude will join Dorota Lech<\/strong>, curator and programmer of the Toronto Film Festival\u00a0<\/strong>and award-winning Irish filmmaker Dean Kavanagh<\/strong>\u00a0on the International Competition jury.<\/p>\n

The International competition which enters its third year includes films from first and second time filmmakers from across the world. This year\u2019s line-up includes Familiar Touch<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Sarah Friedland<\/strong>\u00a0winner of the Future Lion award at Venice Biennale, Universal Language <\/em><\/strong>directed by Matthew Rankin <\/strong>(Canada\u2019s Oscars pick), Paul and Paulette Take a Bath<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Jethro Massey <\/strong>which was nominated for the Queer Lion at Venice Biennale, the UK premieres of Second Chance<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Subhadra Mahajan,<\/strong>\u00a0and Windless <\/em><\/strong>directed by Pavel G. Vesnakov, To Kill a Mongolian Horse<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>directed by Xiaoxuan Jiang <\/strong>which won an award for best writing and directing in Venice and Cannes Golden Camera nominee Eephus<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Carson Lund. \u00a0<\/strong>The International competition also brings the\u00a0<\/strong>Irish premiere of the\u00a0The Ballad of Suzanne C\u00e9saire <\/strong>directed by Madeline Hunt Ehrlich.<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Cinema<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are Hollywood stars galore in this year\u2019s New Cinema strand; Jesse Eisenberg<\/strong>\u2019s A Real Pain<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0starring the director himself and Succession<\/em>\u00a0breakout Kieran Culkin; Amy Adams stuns in Marielle Heller\u2019s Nightbitch<\/em><\/strong>, Rooney Mara stars in tense, wildly inventive kitchen drama La Cocina<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and Cate Blanchett<\/strong>\u00a0is deadpan-hilarious in bizarre political satire Rumours. <\/em><\/strong>BFF24 will feature the brand new Mike Leigh<\/strong>\u00a0(Naked, Secrets and Lies<\/em>) film Hard Truths<\/em><\/strong>, the debut feature King Baby <\/em><\/strong>from dynamic directorial duo Kit Redstone<\/strong>\u00a0and Aaran Shearing, Flow <\/em><\/strong>directed by Gints Zilbalodis <\/strong>Latvia\u2019s 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<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and The Other Way Around<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>will all have\u00a0Irish premieres at BFF24.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Long Short Weekend\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019 mixer. Passes for the Long Short Weekend are \u00a330 and give access to all shorts screenings, talks and receptions as well as a delegate pack. They can be purchased at www.belfastfilmfestival.org\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

BFF Collaborations<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Belfast Film Festival is delighted to partner with some of Belfast\u2019s most exciting arts organisations and collectives. Belfast and Berlin based film journal and virtual cinematheque Ultra Dogme<\/strong>\u00a0brings Now Serving<\/em>,<\/strong>\u00a0a programme of five experimental works of cinema by trans filmmakers to the Black Box, Shankill Screen<\/strong>\u00a0will screen four short films at Vault Artist Studios in the Shankill Mission, Ghouls on Film<\/strong>\u00a0will present a screening of Aislinn Clarke\u2019<\/strong>s debut feature The Devil\u2019s Doorway<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0followed by a Q&A with Aislinn Clarke; and Anaka Women\u2019s Collective<\/strong>\u00a0and Northern Ireland Now <\/strong>team up to present Anaka in the Archives<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0for a celebration of diversity in film archives. Normal Cinema Club<\/strong>\u00a0is back at BFF presenting a screening of Conor O\u2019Malley<\/strong>\u2019s hilarious new comedy feature Rapworld <\/em><\/strong>alongside short Coreys<\/em><\/strong>. Normal Cinema Club will also host the annual BFF quiz<\/strong>\u00a0alongside Best Boy Magazine<\/strong>\u00a0in the Black Box on Friday 8th November.<\/p>\n

Palestine Cinema Days<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/strong>\u00a0screening on 2nd November at the Black Box. This screening of Naila and The Uprising<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0directed by Julia Bacha<\/strong>\u00a0will be one of hundreds of screenings happening throughout the world in solidarity with colleagues in Palestine.<\/p>\n

Art of Action<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of the BFI\u2019s Art of Action, a UK-wide celebration of action on screen, BFF24 will present three William Friedkin<\/strong>\u00a0films The French Connection <\/em><\/strong>(1971), To Live and Die in LA<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(1985) and The Hunted<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(2003) all of which exemplify how his use of action and stunt work complements his pessimistic worldview and emboldens his status as Hollywood\u2019s agitator\/rebel.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the 2024 programme, Michele Devlin, Director of Belfast Film Festival said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year’s programme showcases some of the best of new international film alongside\u00a0gorgeous new work from Irish filmmakers. We have a special 40th anniversary event for the groundbreaking feature Anne Devlin<\/strong>\u00a0bringing the creative team Pat Murphy, Thaddeus O\u2019Suillivan 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<\/strong>\u00a0directed by Julia Bacha<\/strong>\u00a0which is one of hundreds international solidarity screenings taking place across the world on the 2nd November.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jessica Kiang, International Programmer for Belfast Film Festival said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIrish 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 \u2014 the closest thing modern cinema has to a renegade mad scientist.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Sam O\u2019Mahony, director of The Wise Guy, which has its UK premiere at BFF, added:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I am deeply honoured to have my debut feature, The Wise Guy, selected to close this year\u2019s 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.\u00a0 This city is an incredible place to make films and I\u2019ve 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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen commented:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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, Fr\u00e9waka and The Wise Guy. We are particularly excited that The Wise Guy, a product of Northern Ireland Screen\u2019s New Talent Focus scheme, written and<\/em>\u00a0directed by rising talent Sam O\u2019Mahony 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\u2019s 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!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Tickets are on sale today, Thursday 3rd October from 10am. \u00a0https:\/\/belfastfilmfestival.org\/<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Highlights include 25 premieres, including three world-first screenings, 40th\u00a0anniversary 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 … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23299"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23303,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23299\/revisions\/23303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}