The offices of the Belfast Film Festival and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival have been destroyed in the major fire that gutted the North Street Arcade in Belfast last week. Despite this huge setback representatives from both festivals have courageously stated they will carry on.
Michele Devlin of the Belfast Film Festival has confirmed that their offices have been completely destroyed by the fire, “we have lost everything” she says “from our equipment, valuable records, archive tapes to the DVD collection.” The biggest losses being un-returned equipment and prints on loan from artists and production companies. The festival has moved to premises provided by the Northern Ireland Film Commission until their new offices in Donegal Street are complete. The Festival was scheduled to move premises later this Summer but due to the fire they have asked the builders to hurry the work. Despite this devastating fire Michele has said things “could have been worse. ” The Belfast Film Festival was a rip roaring success and had just finished it’s 2004 run in mid April. Attendance’s were up to a record high of 10,000 and the programme featuring ‘The Fog of War’ and ‘Code 46’ was very well received in sold out cinemas.
The Cathedaral Quarter Arts Festival has not been so lucky with its premises also destroyed, with the festival scheduled to take place next week from the 29th – 9th of May. Festival organiser Sean Kelly has stated that the festival will go ahead as planned.
In a statement he said “While this fire is devastating news, both for us and all the other tenants of the arcade, we are determined to go ahead with this year's festival. I would like to reassure the festival artists and people who have already bought tickets that their events will be going ahead.” Dylan Moran, DJ David Holmes and Andrew Loog Oldham, former manager of the Rolling Stones are listed to feature in the festival.
Police in the North are treating the fire as “suspicious” with controversy surrounding the origin of the fire and the history of the heritage listed arcade building.
Former tenants are expected to face and insurance nightmare with The Belfast Film Festival estimated as being almost 10,000 pounds underinsured due to it’s growth over the past year. A series of fund raising events are planned with a Music Gig due to take place in the Ulster Hall with a number of big name acts lined up to play. A charity screening/premiere in aid of the arcade is on the cards for the Belfast Film Festival who defiantly state they will rebuild and return with an even bigger and better festival in 2005.
New Contact Details For Both Events:
Belfast Film Festival at The Exchange Place
23 Donegall Street
Belfast, BT1 2FF
Michele Devlin - +44 (0) 7817 974 207
michele@belfastfilmfestival.org
Anne-Marie Murphy - +44 (0) 7817 850 175
anne-marie@belfastfilmfestival.org
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
43 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1.
For general information remains 028 90232403.
Tickets can now be purchased from the Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place,Belfast,
Telephone 028 90246609.
