The fifth edition of Docs Ireland begins today Tuesday 20th June and is packed with over 85 films and industry events happening over the next six days. Docs Ireland is proudly funded by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Department Of Communities, Film Hub NI, BFI FAN and Arts and Business, and sponsored by TG4, BBC Northern Ireland, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.
One Screen Ireland supported documentary will receive its World Premiere at the festival: Gary Lennon’s I Dream in Photos, which explores the life and work of photographer Cathal McNaughton. Filmed over three years, the film delves into what inspired Cathal to create his breathtaking 25-year-long body of work and why he quit “the best job in the world” aged just 40, shortly after winning the ultimate accolade in his industry – the Pulitzer Prize. There will be a Q&A after the film with director Gary Lennon and Cathal McNaughton on Saturday 24th June.
Festival goers attending Docs Ireland on Thursday 22nd June will be amongst the first to see Stephen Gerard Kelly and Garry Keane’s In The Shadow of Beirut, which will receive its European Premiere at the festival. Fresh from its World Premiere at DocEdge earlier this month, where it won three awards including Best International Feature, the documentary weaves four compelling storylines together in a searing portrait of a people and a city on the brink, yet who possess unmistakable qualities of resilience and hope. Through intimate, character-driven storytelling, the stark reality of life for the protagonists of the film is symbolic of many thousands of others who fight for survival in a city, once described as the Paris of the Middle East, but which now boasts the highest refugee numbers in the world. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
Further Screen Ireland supported documentaries to screen at the festival include a Q&A screening of Frankie Fenton’s Atomic Hope, which was released in Irish cinemas in February this year; a Q&A screening of Margo Harkin’s Stolen which premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival and Maurice O’Brien’s The Artist & The Wall of Death which received a limited released at the IFI in March.
On top of an extensive feature documentaries selection, Docs Ireland will also screen a wide range of diverse short documentaries and international features. Alongside this jam-packed film programme, the festival returns with its most stellar industry programme to date with panels, workshops and networking events staring producers, programmers, and industry professionals from all over the world.
Tickets for all films and events and additional information about the programme can be found here.
