feature: JDIFF 2011 highlights
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Goodness. The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) really crept up on me this year. I mean it started tonight and I still haven’t done my picks. Damn. I’d better get to it.
Every year the JDIFF divides itself into strands and this years strands are
Reel to Reel – Documentaries from around the world
Discovery – Putting the spotlight on films they consider excellent that may not get a general release here in Ireland.
First Look – Irish premieres, a chance to see great films from from across the globe before they come out here.
Out of the Past – JDIFF has raided to archives to bring classic films, restored and back on the big screen where they belong.
Irish Cinema – the best new feature length and short films from Ireland.
Red Carpet Screening – No film festival would be complete without some red carpet action…
Each year they also choose to throw the spotlight onto the films from certain countries. This year they are showcasing French, Latin American and Romanian cinema.
All in all they have over 130 films screening between 17th and 27th Feb so there’s plenty there for everyone. If you want to know what I’ve got my eye on, keep reading.
Outrage (Autoreiji)
Saturday 19th Feb, 11am, Cineworld – Japan – Discovery
I’m a big fan of Far East Asian cinema. I don’t talk about it as much any more, partly because very few actually get a cinema release here and partly because I’m not in Ranelagh as much as I used to be, so never get to browse Laser’s shelves any more. Anyway, generally when one does come to the cinema I try to make the effort to get along to it.
Especially if it stars the legend Beat Takeshi. In fact, Outrage doesn’t just star Takeshi Kitano, he also wrote and directed it. As he is wont to do. This one it about the Yakuza. I’m sure it will be great.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Friday 18th Feb, 6.30pm, Cineworld – USA – Reel to Reel
This film is already sold out but I wanted to mention it anyway in case it gets a general release later in the year…
Werner Herzog is back (not that he went anyway) and he’s decided to make another documentary. About caves. In 3D. It sounds cool to me. I have no idea what he has to say about these caves but damn it Herzog, I’m up for it. Except that I don’t have a ticket, so I too will be waiting for that general release.
Circus Fantasticus
Sunday 20th Feb, 6.30pm, Cineworld – Ireland – Discovery
Truth is, unless you have a lot of time and money on your hands, it can be difficult to decide what you want to see when there are so many films on offer. Sometimes you just have to go with the title. This is a good title. And, bonus, it turns out it -is- about a circus. Well, a circus and war.
Circus Fantasticus is about a man widowed by war and left to bring up his two children. All seems bleak until a circus rolls up, bringing with it hope, light, and happiness, sweeping the family up and away with it. This film won a heap of awards at the 13th Festival of Slovenian Cinema and it sounds like an interesting one to pop along to if you think you can buy into it.
Incendies
Saturday 26th Feb, 11am, Cineworld – Canada / France – Discovery
This year’s entry from Canada for the 2011 Oscars. It’s nominated in Best Foreign Language Film but you’ll have to wait till the 28th before you find out if it won.
Incendies is the story of twins, whose mother’s dying wish is that they travel to the Middle East to find their roots. Through their travels, as they pull together the strings of their tangled past, they find themselves learning more about their mother than they knew was to be known.
Snap
Sunday 20th Feb, 8.30pm, Cineworld – Ireland – Irish cinema
Psychological tension and mystery surround the story of Sandra (Aisling O’Sullivan) and her son Stephen (Stephen Moran). As Sandra tells her side of the story to a documentary crew, we see flashbacks of a day unfolding, the day that her 15 year old son is alleged to have kidnap a toddler.
Writer/Director Carmel Winters, a successful playwright uses a combination of techniques, documentary video, Super 8 and mobile phone footage to create the atmosphere for her feature film debut.
Carmel Winters will be in attendance for this screening
The Big Uneasy
Tuesday 22nd Feb, 6.30pm, IFI – USA – Reel to Reel
Almost 5 years since Hurricane Katrina, Harry Shearer – comedian, actor and New Orleans resident – explores the response to the storm and the flaws in the preparations for a disaster of this scale. He speaks to investigators, residents and a whistle-blower in an effort to unravel what really went on and why people are still willing to live in the city.
Personally I’m fascinated by Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. Like so many big stories, you rarely get to really hear much behind the headlines… and then the next thing you know, that story’s gone, the media is done and on to the next one. This is one I’m definitely going to try to get to.
Harry Shearer will be in attendance for this screening
The Adjustment Bureau
Friday 25th Feb, 8pm, Savoy – USA – Red Carpet Screenings
It’d be totally against the ethos of the site if I didn’t highlight at least one big film… The Adjustment Bureau is loosely based on a short story called Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick. I’m a big fan of his so I’ll go to any film associated with him… and my my there really have been a few. Unfortunately, a lot of them are crap. I have to wondering if it’s even possible to film a Philip K. Dick story… … Doesn’t stop people trying of course. And I’ll keep going along to see the attempts.
This one looks like one of the better ones, it’s directed by George Nolfi, who wrote the screenplay for The Bourne Ultimatum and< Ocean’s Twelve. I’d be interested to see his take on a Philip K. Dick story.
That’s it for now folks otherwise I’ll be way too late posting thing. If any of these films interest you I would urge you to follow the links and book!
The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival runs from Feb 17th to Feb 27th 2011.
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