The Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival kicks of The Beautiful Game, a new season of football themed films starting with The Van on November 28th.
Bringing together a wide range of football films, from much-loved English-language classics like The Van, The Damned United and Bend it Like Beckham, to arthouse gems like Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, The Beautiful Game offers a smorgasbord of football-themed films for fans to enjoy.
Each film will be preceded by archive footage of a classic Irish football moment, right from the earliest international recorded on film (Ireland v Wales in 1906) to the iconic penalty that put Ireland into the quarter finals at Italia ’90.
With each screening featuring stars from the world of film and football, The Beautiful Game is an exciting celebration of one of the world’s great sporting events.
The season kicks off with The Van on Thursday 28 November in the IFI. Written by Roddy Doyle and set against the backdrop of Ireland’s 1990 World Cup campaign, The Van tells the story of unemployed middle-aged men Larry (Colm Meaney) and Bimbo (Donal O’Kelly) who start up a ramshackle business selling fast food from a broken down van. When the business becomes an unexpected success, the pressures of running the business begin to challenge the men’s friendship.
The audience will be joined at the screening by actress Ger Ryan and a special football guest. There will be football games, special prizes and the chance to relive some great soccer moments from the last 30 years on the big screen.
Tickets are €5. IFI, 6 Eustace Street, D 2 6.30pm on Thursday 28th November
https://www.diff.ie/Event/the-van
https://www.diff.ie/Listing/?CategoryTitle=football-in-film
Season Tickets for the 2020 Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival are currently on sale at the early bird price of €200 (full price €250), until Monday December 23rd. Gift Vouchers are also available for €25, €50 & €100.
In addition to invitations to exclusive parties and events, priority booking and entry to every film in the festival season ticket-holders will get a sneak preview of the 2020 programme with an exclusive programme briefing with Festival Director Grainne Humphreys.
The 2020 Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival will bring the world’s best films to the Capital in its stellar 18th edition that will include world premieres and a total of over 110 features. The Festival offers unique access to a plethora of filmmaking talent and will transform Dublin into a hub of glamour, creativity and film appreciation over twelve days next spring.
Over the past seventeen years, the festival has proudly showcased the work of a multitude of Ireland’s very talented producers, directors, screenwriters and actors. It has hosted over 600 major guests, including winners of the festival’s prestigious Volta Award such as Al Pacino, Julie Andrews, Danny DeVito, Daniel Day-Lewis, Joss Whedon, Brendan Gleeson, Angela Lansbury, Stanley Tucci, Stellan Skarsgård, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ennio Morricone.
The 2020 Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival takes place 26th February – 8th March 2020. For more information visit www.diff.ie