Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2014 unveils full line-up

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival has announced a jam-packed line-up of films and a stellar list of Irish and international guests for the 2014 festival, taking place in Dublin from 13th – 23rd February.

The 12th annual Jameson Dublin International Film Festival features over 135 films, including gems that will receive their Irish premieres; a strong strand of music-themed films; the best in short filmmaking with 16 short films screening; 27 intriguing Irish and international documentaries; and 13 star-studded galas of must-see films.  17 new Irish feature length films have also been selected to screen at the prestigious festival.

Irish comedy The Stag, directed by John Butler and starring Peter McDonald, Andrew Scott, Hugh O’Conor and Amy Huberman has been announced as the Closing Gala on Sunday 23rd February.  The cast and crew will be in attendance to mark a memorable end to what will be a feast of films and events over the 11 days of the festival.

Over 100 international guests will attend the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2014, including Hollywood legend Richard Dreyfuss and filmmaker Terry Gilliam, who will attend screenings of their films and public interviews during the festival.  Other high-profile guests this year include John Hurt, Jason Priestley, Brenda Fricker, James Fox, Jean-Marc Barr, Pollyanna McIntosh, filmmaker Richard Ayoade, directors David Mackenzie and Jonathan Glazer, alongside award-winning screenwriter Peter Morgan, who will give a screenwriting masterclass at the festival.

Every film in the programme is a highlight, with key titles to note including Big Sur with Jean Marc-Barr; Wes Anderson’s star-studded The Grand Budapest Hotel; the striking adaptation of Half of a Yellow Sun starring Thandie Newton; Irish filmmaker Alan Gilsenan’s two films, Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay and A Vision: A Life of WB Yeats; the enchanting A Long Way From Home starring Brenda Fricker and James Fox; and the gripping A Thousand Times Good Night starring Juliette Binoche and Maria Doyle Kennedy.

The broad selection of new Irish films screening at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival this year includes John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary as the Opening Night Gala; the superb documentary Come into the Gardens;  Brendan Muldowney’s Love Eternal starring Pollyanna McIntosh; Donal Foreman’s thought-provoking Out of Here; Pat Collins’ insightful Living in a Coded Land; along with Dominic Harari and Teresa de Pelegri’s The Food Guide to Love.

A must-attend festival event and one of the hottest tickets every year is the Jameson Cult Film Club screening.  This year Jaws is the chosen feature and the previously announced guest Richard Dreyfuss will take part in a public interview following the screening.  Information on how to apply for tickets can be found at www.jamesoncultfilmclub.ie.

The festival box-office will open from Tuesday 21st January at 10am.  Tickets can be purchased on www.jdiff.com, in person at FilmBase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, or by phone on (01) 687 7974.

Gráinne Humphreys, Festival Director, commented: [quote]It’s a huge honour to be able to be part of a team that brings such a breadth of important, challenging and entertaining Irish and international cinema to audiences at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival every year.  We’re particularly proud to be opening and closing the festival this year with remarkable Irish films, both of which demonstrate the Irish industry’s ability to produce quality films that can be positioned on a world stage.  The selection of films has been very carefully considered and chosen to ensure that there is very much something for all audiences.  I’m really looking forward to hearing feedback from audiences on the films they loved, and the guests they loved meeting during our annual presentation of Dublin as the city of film in February.  A special word of thanks goes to our dedicated festival volunteers, over 180 of whom will help us keep the event running smoothly.[/quote]

Anna Malmhake, Chairman & CEO Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard added: [quote]We at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard are very proud to be sponsors of this prestigious event, which contributes to showcasing Dublin as a cultural hot spot around the world. It moulds together the charming aspects of our hometown, Dublin – the heritage, the story telling, the creativity and the sociability.  Film as an art form has been close to the heart of the Jameson brand for a very long time. Jameson is involved with some of the most dynamic film festivals around the world.  As part of this year’s Festival, we are delighted that Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss will be joining us for a special Q&A session at the Jameson Cult Film Club screening of Jaws. It has proved to be a hugely popular event since its launch and cements Jameson’s association with film, delivering an unforgettable screening experience for all those who attend.[/quote]

OUT OF THE PAST

The Out of the Past strand will screen 16 titles and will include Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last! with live musical accompaniment by Neil Brand.  The filmmaker’s granddaughter, Suzanne Lloyd, will attend the screening.  A William Klein retrospective forms a core part of the Out of the Past season with the famed photographer and filmmaker attending what will be an unmissable public interview. Another notable inclusion being Michael Cimino’s breathtaking cinematic achievement The Deer Hunter.  A 50th anniversary presentation of the classic The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will be screened.

VOLTA AWARD

In 2007, the festival introduced a career achievement award, the Volta Award, in order to celebrate individuals who have made a significant contribution to the world of film.  Recipients this year will include Richard Dreyfuss, Terry Gilliam and Peter Morgan.  The Volta awards are named after Ireland’s first dedicated cinema, the Volta Picture Theatre, which was established by James Joyce in 1909 on Dublin’s Mary Street. Previous recipients have included Al Pacino, Danny DeVito, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gabriel Byrne, Kristin Scott Thomas and Patricia Clarkson.

WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

19 workshops and events will take place to provide opportunities for established and emerging filmmakers to network and discuss ideas and for audiences to explore the world of film both on and off screen. These include a casting workshop with Lucinda Syson and Margery Simkin; a production workshop with producer Paulo Branco and a screenwriting workshop and writers in conversation.

On Friday 14th February on Smithfield Square, the festival will present a unique demonstration of practical special effects, in partnership with F/X Ireland and the Stunt Actors Guild Ireland.  The event is free and unticketed, and attendees will see Hollywood-style effects scenarios unfold on the streets of Dublin.

A photographic exhibition featuring iconic film images from renowned photographer Susan Wood will be on display at City Assembly House, South William Street, from February 7th – 22nd as part of the festival, which will include stills from Easy RiderModesty Blaise and a host of other films.

The Jameson Dublin Film Festival can be found on social media on Twitter and Facebook.

The funders and sponsors of the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival include: Jameson Irish Whiskey, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board, American Airlines, Toyota, Cineworld, The Merrion Hotel, The Irish Times, RTÉ, Windmill Lane, Wells Cargo, Entertainment.ie, Film Base and The Church.