Taking place between February 20 and March 3, 2019 – the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival has unveiled its full line-up.
The festival will shine a spotlight on all types of cinema, ranging from Irish to International over all types of genres. It will open with the Irish premiere of Handsome Devil director John Butler’s new film Papi Chulo.
The comedy drama tells the story of a lonely, gay TV weatherman (Matt Bomer, Magic Mike) who strikes up an unusual friendship with an older straight migrant worker from Mexico (Alejandro Patiño) and deals with themes of friendship, class, ethnicity and economic migration. Butler, along with his leading men, will be in attendance at the opening gala.
Another high profile guest attending VMDIFF this year is Extras star Stephen Merchant as the festival screens his solo directorial debut Fighting With My Family. The comedy-drama tells the story of the Bevis family, who all are professional wrestlers, as they try to work through the issues that arise when sister and brother duo, Saraya and Zak, audition for roles in WWE.
Also, attending the festival is Killarney actress Jessie Buckley (Beast, Taboo), with her new musical comedy-drama Wild Rose in which she stars alongside Julie Walters and; Josh Hartnett (Penny Dreadful), Lucy Fry (Wolf Creek) and Eiza Gonzalez (Baby Driver) who play leads in thriller She’s Missing. The latter is the sophomore effort from Dublin director Alexandra McGuinness and is getting its world premiere at VMDIFF.
Notable Irish movies to screen as the festival include Neil Jordan’s latest thriller Greta; the Kevin Barry penned Dark Lies the Island featuring an all star cast of Irish stars including Pat Shortt, Charlie Murphy, Tommy Tiernan and Moe Dunford and; Dublin set coming of age drama Dub Daze.
Also, noteworthy is documentary When Hitchcock Met O’Casey, centring on the collaboration between one of Ireland’s most noted playwrights and cinema’s greatest directors for the 1930 film adaptation of Juno and the Paycock. Featuring extensive, incisive interviews with family members, academics, filmmakers and actors, it tells the story of how these two iconic figures met and the legacy of their work together.
Critically acclaimed international features to be shown are Italian dramas Happy as Lazzaro and Loro; the music focused Her Smell, Leto and Vox Lux and; actor Jonah Hill’s directorial debut Mid 90s. On top of these there is also the Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz starring thriller Everybody Knows and western The Sisters Brothers featuring Joaquin Phoenix, John C Reilly and Jake Gyllenhaal.
There will also be various short film programmes running throughout. One of which will include Psychic, the directorial debut by one of Irish cinema’s most respected actors, Brendan Gleeson. It centres on a charismatic psychic and his two manipulative sons who are gaining a cult following, played by his real-life sons Domhnall and Brian.
Previously announced guests for the festival include Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (Adam & Paul, Room) who will take part in a Careers in Screen day. Taking place in the IFI, the event is for young people interested in finding out about working in the film industry.
Meanwhile, directors Bo Burnham and Joe Cornish will attend VMDIFF with new movies Eighth Grade and The Kid Who Would Be King – which will screen as part of the festival’s Fantastic Flix strand – aimed at audiences aged 4 – 16.
For more details about VMDIFF 2019 and to buy tickets, click here.
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