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A marathon of movies and events for film fans

Belfast Film Festival celebrates its 10^th birthday this year and in order to mark this milestone this year’s Festival will be extended to run over 16 days from 15^th–30^th April.  The film festival has grown exponentially from being a small element within a bigger community festival to becoming one of the key cultural events in Northern Ireland. Upwards of 16,000 people attended its events in 2009.

Over the years the Festival has consistently brought premiere’s, high calibre guests and a range of exciting innovative filmic events to the city, and 2010 is no exception.  The 10^th Belfast Film Festival boasts over 30 UK/Irish premieres in a jam packed programme, with 125 screenings and events across Belfast from over 25 countries including, Russia, Japan, Iran, Argentina, Israel and South Africa, to name but a few.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, today launched the programme and website for the 10^th Belfast Film Festival commenting “The Belfast Film Festival has grown to become a flagship annual event in the city’s calendar.  It promotes our city and its people on both an international and national stage, and its reputation for innovation and creativity is widely regarded.  The city of Belfast is extremely proud of these achievements and we look forward to the 20^th, 30^th, 40^th birthday celebrations, and beyond.”

The Festival opens on Thursday 15^th April at the Moviehouse, Dublin Road with the UK/Irish Premiere of Triage starring man of the moment, Colin Farrell as war photographer Mark Walsh. Set in the late eighties, Walsh is sent to Kuridistan with a fellow photographer and friend, both capturing images of a war without borders that will affect both their lives profoundly.

Michele Devlin, Festival Director said of the programme:

“As well as programming a bold mix of international and European films, we are proud to be premiering three local Irish films; they include fun and frolics with buns and dodgy in-laws in the world premiere of Cupcake, Colin McIvor’s directorial debut.  Five Day Shelter is the highly visual ensemble drama, directed by Ger Leonard and starring John Lynch, and we are delighted to confirm that John Lynch (Cal, In The Name of the Father) will attend the premiere, and will give an acting master-class which will include a reading from his soon to be published second novel Falling Out of Heaven. Local film-maker Michael McNulty, a prime example of how hard work and persistence pays off, will premiere his first film Empire, made on a zero budget over three years,  is a true labour of love set in Belfast and starring many well known local faces and locations.”

Film fans eagerly awaiting to see award winning films will not be disappointed.  Conor McPherson’s The Eclipse, which won Best Film award at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA’s) this year, can look forward to its Northern Ireland debut. Starring a simmering and charismatic performance by our very own  Ciarán Hinds alongside Aidan Quinn, IFTA for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film. Ken Wardrop will introduce his documentary film His and Hers, a huge hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, this delightful film is sure to win the hearts of local audiences.

Belfast Film Festival has become synonymous with ground-breaking special events, and this year is no exception. The Festival will show a classic episode of

The cult 1960s TV show, The Prisoner, at First Church of Christ, Scientist University Street. The architect Clough Williams–Ellis who designed the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Belfast -his work can be seen in the village of Portmeirion in Wales the cult TV show was set. The screening will be followed by a discussion on Clough Williams-Ellis’ work and the importance of architectural heritage in Belfast.

In partnership with the Shruti Foundation and Lady Rana, the Festival is proud to have in attendance, one of the pioneers of the new cinema in India, Shyam Benegal, one of India’s most highly regarded film-makers. Two of his films Zubeidaa and The Making of the Mahatma will be screened in the Queen’s Film Theatre. The film-maker will also give a public lecture at the Great Hall in Queen’s University on 22^nd April.

As a way to support the increasing numbers of aspiring film–makers, writers and producers in Northern Ireland and their thirst to know more about the, ‘business of film’, Belfast Film Festival and Northern Ireland Screen have partnered to host a two day seminar, Northern Exposure = Deal Closure. The event will bring in key London sales agents, distributors, producers and literary talent agents for a series of four industry-focused panel sessions and discussion groups. Confirmed panellists include BAFTA nominee Tony Grisoni ( Red Riding Trilogy) Robin Gutch ( producer Warp X) Hilary Davis (Bankside Films) Stephen Murphy

(Optimum Releasing) Nick Marston (Curtis Brown Agency) to name a few. To book a place interested are encouraged to register through the Film Festival website.

Within the renowned Dialogues strand, once again the Festival is unflinching in its investigation and examination of the big issues; This year in association with the Policing Programme at the Committee on the Administration of Justice  (CAJ)

And QUB, this film strand entitled Policing and the People explores the human consequences of state security including the impact of implementing security policy on the police themselves. Films and documentaries to be shown include The Fuse of Peace, which focuses on the events surrounding the Ardoyne Parade in 2009; the stark realities of policing at the frontline of the war against the Taliban are explored in  The Survivors – Days in Zhari Police Station; and in The Fence, the unforeseen social consequences of  U.S and Mexican border security are examined. Speakers include featuring Junior Minister Gerry Kelly (SF) Chief Superintendent Mark Hamilton PSNI, will discuss the lead up to the and events surrounding the Ardoyne Parade and Peter Smith QC, former Patten Commission member.

Also within the Dialogues strand this year, at both the Spectrum Centre Shankill  and Culturlann Falls Road – the Festival will host a screening using archive from RTE as a catalyst for discussion on The Puzzles of Paisley.  There are many seeming puzzles in the long public career of the Reverend Ian Paisley, yet there is a remarkable behavioural consistency. A group of distinguished authors and  journalists will discuss on the Ian Paisley phenomenon with audiences.

Other films to premiere during Festival, include the funny, sad and sometimes tragic Lymelife starring Alec Baldwin. Set in the 1970s, the film is a unique take on the dangers of the American Dream as seen through the eyes of fifteen year old boy.

Same Sex Cinema strand has four great thought provoking and fun films including the hilarious and engaging Topp Twins - The Untouchable Girls,  New Zealand’s most cherished and charmingly irrepressible performing duos;

Also causing a stir is first time writer/ director Xavier Dolan from Canada; his directorial debut, I Killed My Mother showcases Dolan’s tremendous talent as writer, director and star of this brilliantly engaging tale.

Once again music enthusiasts will enjoy the Sound and Vision Strand of the Festival - there are a number of treats including music documentaries on Nick Cave, Neil Young and The Doors. For live music, the Film Festival has teamed up with Moving on Music and Strange Victory. Danish band Efterklang will be performing their quirky experimental pop also within the programme line-up, San Fransisco’s Wooden Shjips.

The Short Film Competition, which highlights local film-making talent will once again showcase 30 locally made Irish short films. The International Maysles Brothers Documentary Competition has an interesting slate of films including the hilarious and youtube phenomenon Winnebago Man; also the ‘king on the bee films’ of the past year, Colony,

American: The Bill Hicks Story, at the QFT, shows rare and previously unseen performance footage and the testimonies only from people who knew him best to create a deeply perceptive film. This will certainly satisfy the hordes of Hicks fans in Belfast.

Closing night film of the 10^th Belfast Film Festival, will be the UK/Ireland premiere of a film by one of Hollywood’s greatest directors-Francis Ford Coppola; Tetro starring Vincent Gallo is Coppola’s first original screenplay since The Conversation; this beautiful film, is shot in black and white and set in the bristling streets of Buenos Aires.

Full information is now available in the official 10^th Belfast Film Festival Programme distributed in key venues across Belfast and by booking online at www.belfastfilmfestival.org

Tickets are available for purchase by phoning Belfast Welcome Centre on

028 90 246609 on in person at 47 Donegall Place Belfast