02/02/2007

For its fifth anniversary, the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (February 16-25) will offer Dubliners its most extensive line-up of Irish, European and world premieres ever with 109 features from 33 countries, making it the biggest film event in the country.

The programme was launched last Wednesday night by Irish director John Carney, a recent winner at Sundance of the World Cinema Audience Award for his musical film Once [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

This year’s rich film menu will kick-start with the premiere of Australian film Jindabyne, attended by its Irish star Gabriel Byrne.

Other VIPs expected include Irish-American filmmaker Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen) for the screening of his film The Groomsmen, legendary UK producer Jeremy Thomas for Fast Food Nation [+see also:
trailer
film profile], UK filmmaker Shane Meadows with This is England [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Canadian actress-director Sarah Polley for the screenings of her directorial debut Away From Her (competing for Best First Feature Film at the Berlinale) and The Secret Life of Words [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Isabel Coixet
film profile].

This year’s controversial film will be Deliver Us From Evil, the Oscar nominated documentary feature debut by Amy Berg about a Catholic priest and pedophile whose serial sexual assaults were known to the American Church for 30 years. The film’s central subject, Father Oliver O’Grady, was born and raised in Ireland and is believed to be currently living in Dublin.

Stephanie Denton, president of International Distribution for Lionsgate, who will release the film in the UK and Ireland later in the year, said: “Given the film’s vigor and fearlessness, we believe that audiences in Ireland and worldwide will be captivated by this incredible story”.

New Irish productions to be unveiled at the festival, besides Once [+see also:
trailer
film profile], include Cre Na Cille by Robert Quinn (Dead Bodies), Small Engine Repair [+see also:
trailer
film profile] starring Iain Glen, and Liam O’Mochain’s low budget film WC about two toilet attendants in a jazz bar.