Belfast Film Festival is returning for the 24th time with a jam-packed programme which will feature three world premieres – including Paddy Duffy’s The UnHolylands, starring James Nesbitt.
Duffy’s coming-of-age comedy sees two brothers attempt one last house party before their university days are over. It also stars Ciaran McCourt, Peter Jeffries and Sean Daly.
The film is set to feature cameos from country music star Nathan Carter and pro boxer Tyrone McKenna.
The annual festival will kick off on October 31 with a Halloween Night screening of new Irish-language horror film Fréwaka directed by Armagh-born Aislinn Clarke.
It will run for 10 days and organisers have said it will showcase some of the best films from across the globe alongside some of the best home-grown talent.
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Michele Devlin, director of Belfast Film Festival, said: “This year’s programme showcases some of the best of new international film alongside gorgeous new work from Irish filmmakers.”
The festival will be hosting a ‘Palestine Cinema Days’, as part of hundreds of screenings happening throughout the world in solidarity with Palestine.
“We are proud to be partnering once again with our friends in FilmLab, Palestine, to present Naila and The Uprising directed by Julia Bacha which is one of hundreds of international solidarity screenings taking place across the world on the 2nd November,” added Ms Devlin.
It will also screen the UK premiere of comedy-drama The Wise Guy, written and directed by Sam O’Mahony and developed through Northern Ireland Screen’s new writer focus scheme.
O’Mahony’s debut feature explores the story of Francis Burns (Senan Jennings), a devout atheist and loner who strikes up an unconventional friendship with a mentor hiding in the nearby woods (Darrell D’Silva).
The Wise Guy Producer Leon Coole, Director Sam O’Mahony, Belfast Film Festival Director Michele Devlin, Fréwaka Director Aislinn Clarke and Producer Dermot Lavery, Doubleband Films, launch the 2024 Belfast Film Festival programme (Jim Corr Photography)
“I am deeply honoured to have my debut feature, The Wise Guy, selected to close this year’s Belfast Film Festival,” said O’Mahony.
“The film is a coming-of-age comedy/drama and, indeed, it feels the last few years in Belfast have served as my own coming-of-age as a filmmaker.
“This city is an incredible place to make films and I’ve been lucky to have been supported on my journey by Northern Ireland Screen, who believed in this project from the start. I hope the film serves as a fittingly joyful and moving conclusion to this brilliant festival.”
Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “The 24th Belfast Film Festival programme continues to showcase the wealth of filmmaking talent we have here in Northern Ireland. Two locally made films take prime spots within the programme, Fréwaka and The Wise Guy.
“We are particularly excited that The Wise Guy, a product of Northern Ireland Screen’s New Talent Focus scheme, written and directed by rising talent Sam O’Mahony and produced by Leon Coole and Out Of Orbit films will be the closing night film on 9th November.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg for Northern Ireland films within the programme, there are many more including Deadman’s Money written and directed by Paul Kennedy and produced by Village Films as well as a packed programme of short films from the island of Ireland for local audiences to enjoy!”