Film Festival Rolls Out The Red Carpet

The 11th Belfast Film Festival opens this week with a star-studded line-up of guests flying in for various events across the 15-day programme.

The Festival kicks off on Thursday at the Movie House, Dublin Road, with the premiere of Killing Bono. Director Nick Hamm will introduce the movie and local actor Marty McCann will also be in attendance.

Other stars jetting in for the Festival include Ciaran Hinds, who, along with director Terry George, will be attending the premiere of The Shore.

Northern Irish born DJ, musician and composer David Holmes will, along with Foy Vance, perform at the Black Box at the after-show party.

Also in town during the festival will be another local, Adrian Dunbar, who is taking part in the Festival as a judge for The Spence Brothers Independent Spirit Award.

The founder of Creation Records, Alan McGee, will introduce Upside Down: The Creation Records Story at QFT, where the director, Danny O'Connor, will also be available for a Q&A.

Director Nadai Tass will introduce her latest film Matching Jack - in which James Nesbitt stars as a sailor who falls for a woman with a sick son and an unfaithful husband.

Actor, director, writer and producer Peter Mullan, will hold a Masterclass at QFT. His highly acclaimed feature film, Neds, picked up the Golden Shell Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2010.

Another highlight of the programme is the unveiling of a plaque to legendary film director Brian Desmond Hurst at QFT. Flying in for this event is Redmond Morris, the film producer of titles such as Interview with a Vampire, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Notes on a Scandal and Michael Collins.

Chair of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, Ivor Benjamin, will also be attending this commemoration to one of Ireland’s most prolific directors.

The full programme and box office is available at www.belfastfilmfestival.org

(JG/BMcC)