10/03/2010

UK/Ireland premieres of Danis Tanovic’s Triage [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Francis Ford Coppola’s Tetro [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] will mark the opening and closing of the 10th Belfast Film Festival (April 15-30).

This year the festival boasts of over 30 UK/Irish premieres, with 125 screenings and events across Belfast from over 25 countries including, Russia, Japan, India, Iran, Argentina, Israel and South Africa.

Festival Director Michele Devlin said, “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 (Cal, In the Name of the Father), [who] we are delighted to confirm 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, a true labour of love set in Belfast and starring many well known local faces and locations.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, said, “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 20th, 30th, 40th birthday celebrations, and beyond.”