Paul Schrader, renowned director of films such as Blue Collar, Hardcore, American Gigolo, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, The Comfort of Strangers, Light Sleeper, Patty Hearst and Affliction among many others, and screenwriter of Taxi Driver and co-writer of Raging Bull, will visit the Audi Dublin International Film Festival (21st Feb- 4th March) to receive a Volta Award at the Irish Premiere of his new film First Reformed at the Light House Cinema on Thursday 22nd February 2018 at 6pm and curate a special season of screenings and events that includes an in-depth Public Interview. Tickets are available to book now at www.diff.ie.
Paul Schrader started his career as one of the talented young filmmakers who were at the centre of an extraordinary renaissance of American cinema in the 1970s. Schrader has also had a remarkable career as a director and, as a critic, he’s a passionate advocate and interrogator of film culture. I know my excitement at his visit and the Irish Premiere of First Reformed will be shared by many of Dublin’s cinema fans and we’re delighted to be honouring him with ADIFF’s prestigious Volta Award.
Gráinne Humphreys, Festival Director
In First Reformed, ex-military chaplain Toller (Ethan Hawke) is tortured by the loss of the son he encouraged to enlist and struggles with his faith. A faith that’s challenged by befriending a radical environmentalist, Michael, and upon learning of his church’s complicity with unscrupulous corporations.
Previous winners of Audi Dublin International Film Festival’s Volta Award include 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 Volta Award is named after Ireland’s first dedicated cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre on Mary Street in Dublin, which was opened on the 20th December 1909 by an enterprising young novelist named James Joyce.
Schrader will be this year’s ADIFF Guest Curator, selecting and introducing three films that have inspired his own work as a filmmaker including Robert Bresson’s Pickpocket (1959), Yasujirō Ozu’s An Autumn Afternoon (1962), and Donald Cammell & Nicolas Roeg’s Performance (1970).
Tickets for the Irish Premiere of First Reformed and the Paul Schrader season are available now via the ADIFF Box Office www.diff.ie or 01 687 7974). Discount packages are available for the full Paul Schrader season and for First Reformed + the Paul Schrader Public Talk.
Don’t forget that ADIFF season tickets and gift vouchers are now on sale in from ADIFF Box Office and also that ADIFF is looking for volunteers for 2018. Volunteers are a crucial part of the team that brings the world’s best films to Dublin every year. For more information on taking part see www.diff.ie.
SCHEDULE Paul Schrader – ADIFF 2018 Guest Curator
Thursday 22nd February
18.00 (Cineworld) First Reformed (Irish Premiere with Q&A and Volta Award Presentation)
Friday 23rd February
14.00 (Light House Cinema) – Pickpocket (1959), introduced by Paul Schrader
16.00 (Light House Cinema) – Performance (1970), introduced by Paul Schrader
18.45 (O’Reilly Theatre) – Paul Schrader Public Talk
Saturday 24th February
14.00 (Light House Cinema) – An Autumn Afternoon (1962), introduced by Paul Schrader (Light House Cinema)
First Reformed Credits:
Written & Directed by Paul Schrader
Starring
Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried,
Cedric Antonio Kyles, Victoria Hill, Philip Ettinger
Produced by
Christine Vachon p.g.a., David Hinojosa p.g.a., Frank Murray p.g.a.,
Jack Binder, Greg Clark, Victoria Hill, Gary Hamilton, Deepak Sikka
A Killer Films Production
An Omeira Studio Partners Production
A Fibonacci Films Production
In Association with Arclight Films International