As the Christmas decorations are stowed away for another year, it’s time to look ahead to an exciting New Year of cinema. With the best in new Irish and international filmmaking, fascinating documentaries, and a host of special guests, the IFI starts 2019 as it means to go on with something for cinephiles of every stripe.
With awards season now in full swing, January brings a busy slate of awards-tipped films to our screens. A trio of sensational performances from Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and the formidable Olivia Colman headline The Favourite (Tues 1st), Yorgos Lanthimos’s delightfully entertaining tale of rivalry at the court of Queen Anne in the early 18th century. Also fancied for Oscar success in February is Peter Farrelly’s Green Book (Weds 30th) which stars Viggo Mortensen as a chauffeur hired to drive a renowned African American pianist (Oscar winner Mahershala Ali) around the Deep South in the 1960s.
Adam McKay’s Vice (Fri 25th), which leads this year’s Golden Globe nominations, sees Christian Bale play former US Vice President Dick Cheney. Supported by an all-star cast featuring Amy Adams, Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell, the film follows in the vein of McKay’s previous film The Big Short with its brash style and unconventional use of cameo performances. Carell also appears this month in Felix von Groeningen’s emotive drama Beautiful Boy (Fri 18th) in which he plays a father coping with the fallout of his son’s (Timothée Chalamet) drug addiction.
Awards season is also to the fore with our regular free Archive at Lunchtime screenings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. January sees the first of two months dedicated to Irish short films that have been nominated for Hollywood’s most prestigious prize, including Louis Marcus’s Páistí Ag Obair and Conquest of Light, Justin Herman’s Three Kisses, Steph Green’sNew Boy, Michael Creagh’s The Crush, and Benjamin Cleary’s Stutterer which won the award for Best Live Action Short in 2016.
In January, the IFI is delighted to partner again with both First Fortnight and Tradfest to present exciting programmes around the topics of mental health and Irish traditional culture respectively. The First Fortnight programme will include the Irish premiere of the aforementioned Beautiful Boy, alongside screenings of Belgian film Labyrinthine, powerful documentary Island of Hungry Ghosts, and a selection of family-friendly shorts; the directors of both Labyrinthine and Island of Hungry Ghosts will take part in post-screening Q&As.
The IFI’s collaboration with Tradfest this year takes place over the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th with screenings of Cathal Ó Cuaig’s moving documentary about accordionist Tony McMahon, Slán Leis An gCeol (Farewell to Music), and Starboard Home, a celebration of the Starboard Home album and concerts that celebrated the formative bond between Dublin’s port, city and river through music, song and spoken word by Rob Davis, Elton Mullally, Moira Sweeney. Both screenings will be followed by Q&As.
Slán leis an gCeolFollowing a hugely successful launch event last January, the Night of Ideas returns on Thursday 31st with a screening of Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff’s 16 Sunrises, which follows French astronaut Thomas Pesquet as he takes off for his first mission in space. The Night of Ideas is a worldwide initiative, spearheaded by Institut Français, that celebrates the constant stream of ideas between countries, cultures, and generations. This screening is presented in association with the French Embassy in Ireland.
Legendary broadcaster Dave Fanning will visit the IFI on Monday 28th to open our series of Bigger Picture screenings for 2019. Fanning will introduce John Ford’s classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which features John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart as two old comrades who reminisce about their efforts to take on the eponymous outlaw, played by Lee Marvin.
Irish filmmaker Tom Burke returns to the big screen on Saturday 5th with a showing of his new documentary Shooting the Darkness. This powerful new film centres on the men who unwittingly became war photographers on the streets of their own Northern Irish towns. Expecting a career of wedding photography and celebrity photocalls, the images they produced would come to define that conflict.
Other events to take place throughout the month include a screening of Paul Anton Smith’s virtuoso supercut Have You Seen My Movie? which combines clips of more than 1,000 scenes that bring the viewer through the glorious experience of going to the movies, and the IFI’s annual screening of John Huston’s The Dead will return on Sunday 6th, with an introduction from writer-actor Mark O’Halloran.
Finally, January will also see the first in our 2019 series of screenings with artists’ moving image organisation aemi – entitled The Memory-Image, the screening will present four films from Alain Resnais, Mark Leckey, Lucy Raven, and Rosalind Nashashibi and Lucy Skaer that highlight the peculiar nature of the relationship between memory and media.
January at the IFI
1st TUES – 18.15 | HAVE YOU SEEN MY MOVIE?
A supercut of over a thousand scenes from films in which characters go to the cinema, it serves as a welcome reminder of just how magical seeing a great film on the big screen with an audience can be.
3rd THURS – 18.10 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: THE FAVOURITE
Two rivals vie for the affections of Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’s deliciously caustic black comedy starring Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman and Emma Stone. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
3rd THURS – 18.30 | IFI & FIRST FORTNIGHT 2019: LABYRINTHINE + PANEL DISCUSSION
Labyrinthine tells the story of a man who, after battling for years, developed ways to cope with his psychiatric disorder by means of art, imagination and innovation. Presented as part of First Fortnight 2019 and followed by a panel discussion.
5th SAT – 15.30 | IRISH FOCUS: SHOOTING THE DARKNESS + Q&A
A powerful new documentary about the men who unwittingly became war photographers on the streets of their own Northern Irish towns. Trish Lambe (Gallery of Photography) will host a Q&A with Tom Burke, producer Thomas Kelly and photographer Alan Lewis.
6th SUN – 18.20 | FROM THE VAULTS: THE DEAD
Join us for our now annual visit on the Feast of the Epiphany to the household of the Misses Morkan as they host New Year’s dinner in John Huston’s pitch-perfect adaptation of James Joyce’s The Dead. Writer and actor Mark O’Halloran will introduce the film.
8th TUES – 15.40 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: THE FAVOURITE
Two rivals vie for the affections of Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’s deliciously caustic black comedy starring Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman and Emma Stone. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
8th TUES – 18.00 | IFI FRENCH FILM CLUB: AN IMPOSSIBLE LOVE
Beginning in 1958, Catherine Corsini’s engrossing drama follows small town girl Rachel (Virginie Efira) as she meets and falls for Parisien charmer Philippe (Niels Schneider), and then spends decades of her life dealing with the repercussions of their tumultuous relationship. Alliance Française and IFI members get tickets for just €7.80.
9th WED – 18.15 | IFI & FIRST FORTNIGHT 2019: BEAUTIFUL BOY + PANEL DISCUSSION
A devastated father struggles to deal with his son’s debilitating addiction to methamphetamines in Belgian director Felix van Groeningen’s first English language film, starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell. Followed by a panel discussion.
13th SUN – 20.20 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: COLETTE
The pioneering life of the titular 19th century French literary sensation is brought to the screen in handsome fashion by director Wash Westmoreland with Keira Knightley) and Dominic West. Presented with Open Captions.
15th TUES – 18.15 | IFI & FIRST FORTNIGHT 2019: ISLAND OF HUNGRY GHOSTS + Q&A
Island of the Hungry Ghosts is a feature length documentary film directed by Gabrielle Brady set on the remote Christmas Island. Includes a director Q&A.
16th WED – 16.00 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: STAN AND OLLIE
This joy of a film follows Laurel and Hardy, two of cinema’s comedy giants, in their twilight years. Starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the famed duo. Presented with Open Captions.
16th WED – 18.30 | FEAST YOUR EYES: COLETTE
January’s pairing of a new release and a specially devised menu will be Wash Westmoreland’s Colette, followed by a specially created main course in the IFI Café Bar. Tickets €21.
19th SAT – 13.00 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: COLETTE
The pioneering life of the titular 19th century French literary sensation is brought to the screen in handsome fashion by director Wash Westmoreland with Keira Knightley) and Dominic West. Presented with Open Captions.
20th SUN – 11.00 | IFI FAMILY & FIRST FORTNIGHT 2019: FEELING FINE
This specially curated programme offers different stories of positive mental health through animations and live action short films. Dealing with school, friendship, bereavement, starting out or learning how to be your best, these terrific films from different countries will have you and your young viewers leaving with a smile.
20th SUN – 13.00 | MYSTERY MATINEE
The ultimate surprise film at the IFI. It could be absolutely anything from the history of cinema and tickets are just €5.20.
20th SUN – 20.40 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: BEAUTIFUL BOY
A devastated father struggles to deal with his son’s debilitating addiction to methamphetamines in Belgian director Felix van Groeningen’s first English language film, starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
22nd TUES – 18.15 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: STAN AND OLLIE
This joy of a film follows Laurel and Hardy, two of cinema’s comedy giants, in their twilight years. Starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the famed duo. Presented with Open Captions.
23rd WED – 18.00 | IFI FILM CLUB: BEAUTIFUL BOY
A devastated father struggles to deal with his son’s debilitating addiction to methamphetamines in Belgian director Felix van Groeningen’s first English language film, starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell. This screening will be followed by an information discussion of the film with IFI staff.
24th THURS – 13.10 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: BEAUTIFUL BOY
A devastated father struggles to deal with his son’s debilitating addiction to methamphetamines in Belgian director Felix van Groeningen’s first English language film, starring Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
25th FRI – 11.00 | WILD STRAWBERRIES: THE WIFE
With her performance as the much put-upon wife Joan, behind a pompous Nobel prize-winning author, the Golden Globe nominated Glenn Close is deservedly back in the awards race. Our over 55s film club, tickets just €4.45 including regular tea/coffee before the event.
26th SAT – 13.00 | IFI & TRADFEST 2019: FAREWELL TO MUSIC + Q&A
A lyrical portrait of a brilliant yet tormented artist, Slán leis an gCeol explores the complexities of a talented and philosophical man. Tony MacMahon, one of Ireland’s most remarkable traditional musicians, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s and is rapidly losing his ability to play. Screening followed by a Q&A.
26th SAT – 13.00 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: VICE
Adam McKay follows The Big Short with this loose biopic of former U.S. Vice-President Dick Chaney played by Christian Bale with fine support from, amongst others, Sam Rockwell, Amy Adams, and Steve Carell. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
27th SUN – 13.00 | IFI & TRADFEST 2019: STARBOARD HOME + Q&A
Featuring the highly successful Starboard Home album and showcase gigs at the National Concert Hall, Dublin this documentary celebrates the formative bond between Dublin’s port, city and river through music, song and spoken word. This screening will be followed by Q&A.
28th MON – 18.15 | THE BIGGER PICTURE: THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE
This month’s selection sees John Wayne, James Stewart, Lee Marvin and Vera Miles star in one of John Ford’s greatest Westerns. This special screening will be introduced by broadcaster Dave Fanning.
29th TUES – 18.30 | IFI & AEMI PROJECTIONS: THE MEMORY-IMAGE
The moving image comes closer than any other medium to conveying and informing our experience of time and memory. Curated by Sarah Durcan in collaboration with aemi.
30th WED – 11.00 | WILD STRAWBERRIES: THE WIFE
With her performance as the much put-upon wife Joan, behind a pompous Nobel prize-winning author, the Golden Globe nominated Glenn Close is deservedly back in the awards race. Our over 55s film club, tickets just €4.45 including regular tea/coffee before the event.
30th WED – 18.00 | OPEN CAPTIONED SCREENING: VICE
Adam McKay follows The Big Short with this loose biopic of former U.S. Vice-President Dick Chaney played by Christian Bale with fine support from, amongst others, Sam Rockwell, Amy Adams, and Steve Carell. Presented with Open Captions for the hearing impaired.
31st THURS – 18.00 | IFI & NIGHT OF IDEAS 2019: 16 SUNRISES + PANEL DISCUSSION
The Night of Ideas is a worldwide initiative, spearheaded by Institut Français, that celebrates the constant stream of ideas between countries, cultures and generations. This event includes a screening of documentary 16 Sunrises plus a panel with director Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff, Professor Lorraine Hanlon, UCD and Dr. Niamh Shaw, hosted by Elaine Burke of Silicon Republic.