Kevin Spacey introducing The Usual Suspects? You don’t have to ask us twice, we’re there!
It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating Tilda Swinton’s amazing I Am Love closing last year’s Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF), but here we are again, another year and another star-filled line-up. The guests have been invited, the parties planned and the 2011 JDIFF programme was just released (check out the line-up here).
There is so much going on throughout the 10 days of the festival that the question always is ‘what should I see?’. Movies.ie has painstakingly gone through the programme for you, and presents the highlights of this year’s Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.
As always, JDIFF is full of special guests, gala screenings and red carpet events, but there is plenty to see, and it is often the quiet little movie shown early on a Sunday morning that gets the most love. This year’s festival is bookended by Richard Ayoade’s directorial debut Submarine – which is already being hailed as the new Juno – and the delightful Potiche, starring Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu.
DISCOVERY SEASON
The Discovery Season of this year’s festival celebrates emerging filmmakers from around the world. Ones to watch in this season include Stellan Skarsgard’s fantastic A Somewhat Gentle Man and the endearing For 80 Days.
LATIN CINEMA
This year, JDIFF commemorates Latin American cinema with a wonderful season including Daniel and Diego Veda Vidal’s October and the part-documentary, part cinematic essay Nostalgia for the Light.
IRISH SEASON
What would any film festival be if it did not celebrate home grown talent? JDIFF loves Irish film, and ones to watch in this season include Paul Fraser’s My Brothers and Juanita Wilson’s As If I am Not There.
REAL TO REEL DOCUMENTARY SEASON
Documentaries need love too, as they are often overlooked in favour of the loud and beautiful narrative cinema. There are many wonderful documentaries being shown this year, including The Big Uneasy – Harry Shearer’s investigation into why the levees failed in New Orleans – and the lovely Cameraman, which focuses on the life and work of the late, great Jack Cardiff.
JAMESON CULT FILM CLUB
This is the inaugural year of the Jameson Cult Film Club, and what a way to start! JDIFF is delighted to welcome Kevin Spacey to Dublin, as special guest at the Red Carpet screening of the timeless The Usual Suspects, which – of course – also stars the wonderful Pete Postlethwaite. Tickets will be allocated through a lottery.
ROMANIAN CINEMA
This year, JDIFF celebrates emerging cinema with an entire season of the festival dedicated to Romanian film. Ones to watch in this season include Living on Love Alone and Alexandru Maftei’s Hello, How Are You?
FIRST LOOK
The first look season of the film festival allows Irish audiences to see upcoming films first. The season includes the highly anticipated sequel to East is East, aptly titled West is West and Doug Lima’s Fair Game as well as the Academy Award nominated Incendies.
OUT OF THE PAST
As always, JDIFF loves classic movies and will be celebrating greats of the past including Humphrey Bogart in African Queen and Vincent Price’s scream-inducing The Tingler.
GALAS AND RED CARPET SCREENINGS
What would JDIFF be without the red carpet being rolled out? This year JDIFF is delighted to welcome Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen to Dublin for the red carpet screening of The Way. The highly anticipated The Adjustment Bureau and Unknown will also be shown as part of this season.
As always, there is tons to consider in this year’s JDIFF, but with a diverse, challenging and entertaining selection of films being shown, there is a film for every audience. Be quick, tickets will be snapped up fast, especially for the ever talked about, highly anticipated Surprise Film. Last year’s secret film turned out to be Ben Stiller’s Greenberg, we’re taking guesses on this years secret movie.
For more check out the 2011 line-up here or visit the official site at http://www.Jdiff.com
Words – Brogen Hayes