In addition to a strong programme of films, this year’s Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has an excellent line-up of behind the scenes events with home-grown and international talented filmmakers and experts as guests. Recognising the importance of the Festival to the Irish filmmaking industry, a number of special events are programmed every year. Featuring individuals who have worked on the films of the remarkable Stanley Kubrick, including producer Jan Harlan amongst others, the Festival will welcome some very special guests including documentary filmmaker and programmer Mark Cousins, Casting Directors Margery Simkin (Top Gun) and Leo Davis (Layer Cake) and actors Robert Sheehan (The Road Within), and Aidan Turner (The Hobbit).
On Saturday March 14th as part of the Behind The Scenes strand of this years Jameson Dublin International Film Festival they will be hosting a free outdoor event on Wolfe Tone Square.
In keeping with the Barry Lyndon 40th anniversary celebration JDIFF are going to film a fencing duel live on the square. The public are invited to come along and follow the action in terms of what goes into shooting an action sequence, and see first hand the camera, the crew, the lights and of course the action. Presented in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Lovemovies.ie, and The Church this is a unique and exciting opportunity to see real cinematic magic be created up close and hear directly from industry professionals.
Scene on the Square
2pm, Saturday 14th March, Wolfe Tone Square
In association with LoveMovies.ie this free event will allow the public to see the behind the scenes of shooting a film. Spectators are invited to and see what goes into a scene on Wolfe Tone Square with the video live-streamed onto a large screen, and hear from their MC about the various roles and responsibilities among the crew.
Broadcasting: A Changing Landscape
12pm, Friday 20th March, Wood Quay Venue
This is the first of the Festival’s Screen Test series in association with BAI, with guests David Levine (General Manager, Disney Channels UK & Ireland) and Brian Furey of the BAI. This event will discuss how new and emerging platforms such as Netflix & VOD are impacting the content being produced for TV & radio. The technological developments around on-demand and digital download services will be explored from the point of view of broadcasters and showrunners.
Kubrick’s Cameras and The Cinematography of Barry Lyndon
10.30am, Saturday 21st March, Light House Cinema
In association with the Irish Society of Cinematographers, members of the crew from Barry Lyndon, Doug Milsome, Larry Smith, Laurie Frost, Joe Dunton and Luke Quigley will be discussing the making of the film and how they worked with director Stanley Kubrick and the techniques they used to achieve the unforgettable look of the film, famous for its ultra low-light candlelit scenes. This is an unmissable event for aspiring camera practitioners and enthusiasts of Kubrick’s cinematic legacy.
Producing with Jan Harlan
11am, Sunday 22nd March, Light House Cinema
Jan Harlan, who worked as executive producer on many of Stanley Kubrick’s films including Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut will share insights about his career and working with the famous director himself, who was also his brother in law.
Perspectives in Pictures
12pm, Sunday 22nd March, National Museum of Ireland Collins Barracks
This will be a fascinating discussion on the depiction of history on screen in the appropriately historic setting of Collins Barracks, with filmmakers Mary McGuckian (The Price Of Desire), Se Merry Doyle (Talking To My Father) and Jennifer Goff, curator of the Eileen Gray collection at the National Museum of Ireland. Questions such as “do filmmakers feel a responsibility to represent historical and events accurately” will be raised.
Animators in Conversation
1:30pm, Sunday 22nd March, Light House Cinema
This event is a must for anyone interested in a career in one of the fastest growing creative sectors in Ireland as well as lovers of animation. Two-time Oscar nominee Tomm Moore (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea) of Cartoon Saloon and animation producer Didier Brunner (The Secret of Kells) will discuss developments in animation today.
The Art of Manipulation: Editing with Reka Lemhenyi
3pm, Monday 23rd March, Teachers Club
In the second Screen Test series, award-winning Hungarian editor Reka Lemhenyi (Free Fall, The Door) talks through in depth editing techniques and her illustrious career, including her work on Free Fall which is screening as part of this years festival.
Expressing Emotion: Actors in Conversation
3pm, Tuesday 24th March, Teachers Club
As part of the Test Screen strand, Young acting talents Robert Sheehan (The Road Within), Aidan Turner (The Hobbit), Sarah Greene (Vikings) and discuss their careers, training and getting started in the industry.
Write to Live, Live to Write: Managing your Writing Career
3pm, Wednesday 25th March, Teachers Club
In association with the Irish Writers Centre, this event is aimed at writers looking for advice about managing and maintaining their career and the challenges of the creative process, idea management and overcoming the dreaded writer’s block with script consultant Mary Kate O’Flanagan, story development professional Rachel O’Flanagan, Conor McMahon (From the Dark) and Pierce Ryan (Standby).
Seeking the Truth: Mark Cousins in Conversation
12pm, Thursday 26th March, Irish Times Building
Northern Irish filmmaker, critic and programmer Mark Cousins (The Story of Film, 6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia) will engage in a public interview about his life and work.
Conquering the Script (Day 1)
Friday 27th March, Hugh Lane Gallery
The day will take participants on a journey from the early generation of ideas and into the development of story through the paradigm of conflict and the crisis screen characters need to undergo, to render your film powerful and engaging. There will be a story debate with filmmakers about their completed films, the development process and the story choices they made. Panelists and guests on the day will include Lenny Abrahamson, as well as development specialists Juanita Wilson (Octagon Films) and Eoin O’Faolain (Samson Films).
First Rule of Book Club….
2.30pm, Friday 27th March, Pearse Street Library
With the current popularity of book to screen adaptation such as Gone Girl, Game of Thrones and American Sniper, this discussion focuses on book to film adaptations and what drives audiences towards one medium or another with Bob Johnston of the Gutter Bookshop and Jason Flood of Dublin City Comics.
Conquering the Script (Day 2)
Saturday 28th March, Wood Quay Venue
The day kicks off with a debate on the current state of storytelling in Irish film and TV drama. As the day evolves they have another session that is devoted to kitting out your development tool box, more story debate with a feature director and the keynote interview to crown the day. Panelists and guests on the day will includes Michael Kinirons and Will Collins, Eugene O’Brien, Ian Power and Carol Morely as well as key note speaker Hossein Amini.
It Begins with the Script: Casting Event
2pm, Saturday 28th March, Teachers Club
The ever popular casting event returns in 2015 with Emmy Award nominated Leo Davis who has worked on Layer Cake, The Constant Gardener, The King’s Speech, and The Queen discussed her work in conversation with Margery Simkin whose credits include Avatar, Top Gun, and Erin Brockovich.
Critical Response
3pm, Saturday 28th March, The Church
Six daring members of Dublin Film Critics Circle will provide instant responses to three films which they are shown blind in a fun event that will provide insight into the way on which opinions are formed and responses are fashioned in film reviews.
Dublin Film Critics Awards
4:30pm, Saturday 28th March, The Church
Established in 2006, The Dublin Film Critics Circle offers the city’s full-time professional movie reviewers an opportunity to pool opinions. In this event you can join the panel which includes Daniel Anderson (Click), Brogen Hayes (Movies.ie), Nicola Timmons (Average Film Reviews), David O’Mahony (Access Cinema), Donald Clarke (Irish Times), Esther McCarthy (Sunday World) and Tara Brady (Irish Times) as they name their final selections for Best Film, Best Documentary and Best Performances from JDIFF 2015.
The 13th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will take place from March 19th to 29th. The full programme is available to view: jdiff.com along with online booking. Tickets can also be booked in person at the Festival Box Ofiice on 13 Lower Ormond Quay or at Ticket Offices in Cineworld or the Light House from 14th March.