The opening film of the 4th festival will be the Irish Premiere of the film 'The War At Home', starring Martin Sheen, Katy Bates and directed by Martin Sheen's son, Emilio Estevez. Martin Sheen will be attending to officially open the festival and will remain in Belfast as a guest of the festival also attending a Q & A 'Audience with Martin Sheen'.
In West Belfast Film Festival began in 1995 as an initiative of Feile an Phobail, the community festival in West Belfast which takes place in August each year. The 3rd West Belfast Film Festival in 1997 was held in September in the then Cineworld, Kennedy Centre, Falls Road. In 1998 for a number of reasons the festival was not held. As the Autumn period was becoming crowded with festivals and as Cineworld was being refurbished to the now renamed Cineplex it was decide to move the festival to March 1999.
One major innovation this year is that there will be simultaneous events at venues across the city. On Monday 22nd March the festival will present a silent film, 'New Babylon' with piano accompaniment at the Waterfront Studio with the pianist Neil Brady. On Friday 26th March a celebration of short film made in the North or about the North will take place in the Virgin Cinema, Dublin Road. Cinemagic have also programmed a number of films to be screened in the Cineplex during the festival.
The West Belfast Film Festival is working this year with Flix Feirste who have sponsored this years Irish language presentations, and Forbairte Feirste who are hosting a seminar in Irish Language broadcasting and filmmaking.
Other highlights of the week include a spotlight on Belfast film director, Bredan Byrne; there will be a special tribute programme featuring three of his films including his latest work 'Saoirse'. In honour of the 40th anniversary of the Cuban revolution there will be a day of Cuban films and the evening will include a salsa night at a local venue.
Contact:
Festival Manager: Michele Devlin
The West Belfast Film Festival,
Tel: 0044 232 325913
MMM 11/03/99
