Iconic Film Theatre Celebrates 40 Years

What was originally a tiny film theatre in a back alley, but which maintained its 'vision' throughout more than 30 years of the NI Troubles, Queen's (University) Film Theatre (QFT) in Belfast will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary.

From Friday 3rd to Thursday 9th October a week of special screenings and events will commemorate QFT's unique contribution to cinema in Northern Ireland.

Launching the anniversary season, Susan Picken, QFT Manager said: "We have pulled out all the stops to come up with a truly exceptional programme for QFT's 40th anniversary.

"Our aim is to celebrate 40 years of the best of cinema in Northern Ireland and the best of Northern Ireland in cinema, with a diverse range of film favourites past, present and future," she said.

Events will kick off in true Hollywood style on Friday 3rd October with special previews of two major new releases - 'Burn After Reading', the latest star-packed vehicle from the Coen Brothers and Gomorrah, a no-holds-barred, ultra realistic look at the workings of the Mafia in contemporary Italy, which won the Grand Prix at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

On Saturday 4th October, QFT will welcome Ciarán Hinds, one of Northern Ireland's finest and hardest working actors and star of 'There Will Be Blood', 'In Bruges' and 'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day', for a special 'In Conversation With' event, in association with the Irish Film and Television Academy.

Looking back at the Province's Troubles, QFT will also show special screenings of the ground-breaking, and very original terrorist-based movie 'Cal', a strangely and unhappily compelling film from the pen of Bernard MacLaverty.

'Hush-A-Bye-Baby' is also being shown, featuring Emer McCourt and singer Sinéad O'Connor, as herself, in a movie that seems to be waging a losing battle against a culture itself in conflict, as the presence of British soldiers makes clear.

QFT will also host a special preview of the new home-grown supernatural shocker 'Freakdog', on Thursday 9th October.

Before the screening, Northern Ireland Screen will chair a panel discussion looking at recent cinematic successes and where the local film industry goes from here.

Other highlights of the anniversary programme include a selection of QFT's 'Greatest Hits' with a one-off, back-to-back screening of 'The Godfather' trilogy, a remastered showing of David Lynch favourite 'Eraserhead' and a centenary focus on the director David Lean, with screenings of Dickens classics 'Oliver Twist' and 'Great Expectations'.

In a special QFT Late event, complete with visuals and a late bar, DJ and film composer David Holmes will be hitting the decks on Saturday 4th October with a special psychedelic 1968 set in the QFT foyer, following a screening of Performance, the gangster classic starring Mick Jagger.

See: www.queensfilmtheatre.com

(BMcC)