The 31st edition of the Foyle Film Festival got off to a fantastic start on Friday 16 November, with a sold out screening of Wash Westmoreland’s Colette at Brunswick Moviebowl. The screening, which was the film’s Northern Irish premiere, received two rounds of rapturous applause from the audience on Friday night.
Keira Knightley gives a remarkable performance in Colette as the eponymous feminist author who defied both her husband and societal gender expectations to fight for creative ownership, it was the perfect film to kick off the festival programme, as this year’s theme is Voices.
Festival director Bernie McLaughlin, said: “Thanks to everyone who attended our packed screening of Colette on the Opening Night of the 31st Foyle Film Festival. It is fantastic to have such great local support and to welcome Edwin Thomas, star of Rupert Everett’s critically acclaimed The Happy Prince, who helped us launch the festival in style.”
100 Screenings over 10 Days
The festival looks forward to 10 dynamic days of programming with screenings at the Nerve Centre and Brunswick Moviebowl, including many more premieres, features and documentaries, in addition to Q&A sessions with special guests including Ed Moloney and Vanessa Redgrave. The Light in Motion Competition, will run for the duration of the festival.
The competition, which is Academy® Award affiliated, has gained international recognition and a reputation for nurturing emerging film-makers. Previous winners and competitors have included Martin McDonagh for Six Shooter (2006) and Andrea Arnold for Wasp (2004).
This year’s programme contains over 100 films, eclectic in scope and theme, which in one way or another, give voice to those who historically have been excluded from narratives.
Fun For All The Family
Families will not be disappointed as Disney returns to the Foyle Film Festival with the much-anticipated animation Ralph Breaks the Internet. They will also enjoy screenings of the Disney classics Bambi and Dumbo, and a 30th anniversary screening of the Tom Hanks box-office smash hit, Big .
After kicking off with the Northern Irish premiere of Colette this year’s programme will close on Sunday 25 November with a screening of Sara Colangelo’s The Kindergarten Teacher, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal in a role some critics have dubbed a career best performance.
Foyle Film Festival is funded by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Derry City and Strabane District Council and Tourism Northern Ireland. The Festival acknowledges the ongoing support of City of Derry Crystal, and venue partner Brunswick Moviebowl.
All photographs by Lorcan Doherty, for more details and bookings, check out the festival’s website.