We are at the half way point of the 18th Belfast Film Festival and day 5 was packed to the brim with special events and guests!

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Irish Civil rights leader, feminist, socialist and elder stateswoman of anti-establishment politics, Bernadette McAliskey to our 50th Annniversary Screening of Agnès Varda’ Black Panthers. McAliskey has her own personal connections  with the Black Panthers, and she took part in a sold out Q&A following the screening with Bill Rolston to discuss her time as a political candidate.

Simultaneously we screened the sold out Kissing Candice, a searing drama about youth at risk in smalltown Ireland. Following the screening we had a Q&A with debut feature director Aoife McArdle, a rising star who brings a lush, sensuous eye to even the darkest scenarios.  

Across the city we had a packed out screening at the Strand Arts Centre, where the Skyway Cinema Club showcased their work. The Skyway Cinema Club is a vibrant and creative group of adults with learning disabilities, who for almost 10 years have worked with Belfast film maker, Michael McNulty, to recreate iconic moments from the silver screen. Last night these included Titanic, Home Alone, The Great Escape and much more!

The 26th Film Devour Short Film Festival took place in a packed-to-the-rafters Black Box, where 16 short films were screened. Film Devour provides a platform for local filmmakers, writers and actors to screen their films, network and co-ordinate ideas. The Balance Within, directed by Carl Eh Quinn, won the Director’s Choice Award while Salt and Pepper by Liam Scott picked up the Audience Choice Award! Congratulations to both films!