Last year Derry’s Foyle Film Festival stepped back from a possible clash with the Cork and British Independent Film Festival and brought the traditional Autumnal showcase forward to April. The result ?
Locals didn’t like it, and since it is locals that matter in Derry, Foyle ’99 is back to its traditional November setting, running from 12th to 21st of the month. Now that the dates have been re-established, Shauna Kelpie, the Festival Director, is gearing up to have the event make a renewed impact on the city. Themed, Time in Motion, the 14 days of Foyle ’99 promise to have more on offer than ever before.
Foyle began in 1987 as a grassroots initiative and since then has grown to become a hugely important date in the Northern Ireland events calendar. It passed ownership to the Nerve Centre in 1990 and it is this which has brought it back to its grassroots origin. The Nerve Centre is an education and cultural exhibition facility for filmmakers and the local community. The organisation is responsible not only for the Foyle festival but also the Cinemagic Children’s International Film Festival in Belfast. Operating from a newly built multimedia arts centre the Nerve Centre accommodates a live performance venue, exhibition space and a small cinema. It regularly hosts screenings, education and training opportunities and works closely with local community groups.
It is the educational aspect of the centre which most strongly informs the Foyle Festival. Apart from the screenings, the festival will focus on behind the camera workshops and discussion forums. The highlight for most filmmakers will be the opportunity to meet European director Wim Wenders. Set to coincide with the screening of his latest film the Buena Vista Social Club, the Nerve Centre studio will host an Audience with Wim Wenders on 13th November. Other highlights include a visit from animation director Rob Coleman, best known for his work on Star Wars the Phantom Menace. The 16th November talk will focus on practical aspects of designing and building characters such as Jar Jar Binks and Sebulba.
Another guest appearance will feature one of Britains most successful screen writers, Jimmy McGovern, creator of the Cracker television series.
Ultimately screenings are what matters at a film festival and, with over 100 titles in 10 days, this years programme is strong. There will be total of 14 Irish premieres including the opening film With or Without You (Old New Borrowed Blue), directed by Michael Winterbottom and produced by Andrew Eaton of Revolution Films. Also screening as an Irish premiere is the new Miramax comedy Happy Texas, directed by Mark Illsley. Other highlights include the films Being John Malkovich; Mystery Alsaka starring Burt Reynolds; The Limey with Terrance Stamp and Peter Fonda and the closing film is The Ninth Gate, the latest feature from Director Roman Polanski.
The main sponsor this year is Budweiser and they stamped their mark on the festival early, with a three centred launch party which began in Derry on a Monday night, moved to Belfast on Wednesday and finished in Ceoil in Dublin for the final launch event on the Friday. Speaking at the Derry launch Candida Brown, Marketing Manager Anheuser-Busch, NI, said, “when the opportunity arose for Budweiser to get involved in the Foyle Festival, it was an excellent match as Foyle is one of Ireland’s most innovative Film Festivals and we believe it is the perfect sponsorship opportunity.”
Other special guests to be found wandering the streets of Derry during the 10 day event include Joseph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Jim Sheridan, Brendan Gleeson, Brenda Fricker, Bob Hoskins, Gina McKee and Andrew Eaton. With pedestrians like these adding to a long fabled festival atmosphere, the trip to Derry should be more than worth it.
Foyle are set to launch their new website at
www.nerve-centre.org.uk
Full programme details can be found there soon.
