feature: JDIFF 2010 programme launch

Thursday night (28 Jan 10) saw the launch of the 8th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF). This year’s festival runs from 18th to 28th February 2010 and, like every year, is packed full of films that you’ll want to see. Of course, like every year, I’ll probably only end up seeing a handful of the ones I want to see… but oh well. I can hope.

Strands in the festival this year include Reel to Reel, the documentary section of the festival. Out of the Past, a series of older classic films brought back to the big screen and a Kenneth Anger retrospective. The IFI will be screening 10 of Anger’s short films across 3 days and, on the last Saturday of the festival, hosting a public talk and discussion with him. Other strands include Russian and Korean cinema and the festival will also be paying tribute to the French films of Kristen Scott Thomas, who will be in attendance at the screening of Partir on Saturday 27th Feb in Cineworld at 6.45pm.

Which is not to say they ignore the bigger films – casting an eye over this year’s programme it’s a little hard to pick the biggest film. I’d say it’s a toss up between Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. Shutter Island will be showing in Cineworld as part of the festival on Thursday 25th Feb, ahead of its general release on March 12th. Alice in Wonderland will be in The Savoy, Dublin on the last day of the festival, Sunday 28th Feb at 2pm ahead of its general release on March 5th. If you want to catch either of these films during the festival you’ll have to book though the JDIFF website. That said, Neil Jordan’s new film, Ondine is likely to do very well too, Irish interest and all, and it is opening the festival so if you want to see it book early…

But those are the biggies that you will be able to catch later on in the year. I always think a film festival is more about the films you won’t get a chance to see anywhere else and there are plenty of those in this year’s programme. A couple of those that jump out at me are…

Colony
I know I may be alone in my love of bees but… I really like bees. I think they’re cute and interesting and I’d certainly watch a film about them.
Colony is an Irish made documentary that follows the lives of a number of American beekeepers in 2008 and 2009. It particularly looks at the unexplained phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder which has caused a massive reduction in the number of honey bees in the US and many European countries. I’ve my tickets booked anyway, just in case there are loads of people out there who are as interested in bees as me…

Accident (Yi Ngoi)
Accident is a new crime thriller/drama from Hong Kong in the tradition of Infernal Affairs or City on Fire. It’s about a group of assassins who kill their targets by staging accidents. When one of their “accidents” goes wrong, the leader of the group starts to suspects that perhaps they are the ones being targetted… Plotwise it’s no odds to me but I am interested in seeing a film that’s being highlighted as a special presentation in the festival and I haven’t seen a HK crime drama in a while so I’m up for it. 11am in The Savoy on 21st Feb.

Whip It
The last film I’m going to highlight looks like a bit of fun. Drew Barrymore has had a successful acting and producing career spanning many, many years and now she has decided to turn her hand to directing. Whip It is her debut as a feature film director and stars Ellen Page (of Juno fame), Marcia Gay Haden and Juliette Lewis. There are also a couple of Saturday Night Live alumni, Jimmy Fallon.
For her debut Barrymore has pick the topic of roller derby. I’m sure if you read the article you’ll learn more about it but I gather it’s a very competitve team sport in America and involves skating around a rink trying to pass members of the opposing team. Sounds odd but I keep hearing about it lately so I’m all up for finding out a bit more about it…

What I’m really looking forward to though are the Korean films. Those of you who know me will know that I’m a big fan of Asian cinema and in recent years South Korea has produced some excellent films. I’m going to write a separate article on those at a later date but rest assured that there seem to be some good ones in the programme.

Anyway that’s just first impressions for me. Have a look at the JDIFF website for more information and undoubtedly you’ll find other films that you’ll want to see yourself.

please note: all information is correct at the time of publication, programme is subject to change