The Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) is set to captivate audiences once again, showcasing a diverse array of films and hosting industry events that promise to be both insightful and entertaining. Dublin International Film Festival events in the Complex from February 23 to February 28, 2024, the festival will be a celebration of the art of filmmaking, featuring discussions, masterclasses, and screenings that highlight the best in global and Irish cinema.
Dublin International Film Festival Events in The Complex schedule:
Thursday, 22rd February
Kicking off the Festival Tanqueray 0.0% Film Club: In Conversation with Hugo Weaving
16:00pm
The internationally renowned Actor Hugo Weaving sits down for In Conversation with RTÉ’s, Michael Doherty.
With an illustrious career across theatre, indie film, and several global franchises, Weaving rose to prominence through a stand-out performance in the award-winning Proof (1991), followed three years later by a starring role in the cult classic The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994). Now, as one of the most instantly recognisable faces in cinema, Weaving is celebrated for his portrayals of the enigmatic Agent Smith in The Matrix franchise, the much-revered Elrond in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and the vigilante ‘V’ in V for Vendetta (2005).
Hugo Weaving stars in the Irish Premiere of The President by Thomas Bernhard at the Gate Theatre until 24th March. Tickets are now on sale from gatetheatre.ie.
Don’t miss this rare chance to be part of a conversation with one the world’s most accomplished acting talents.
Friday, 23rd February
Irish Cinematography - TWIG
12:00pm - 60mins
The festival opens with a public talk between cinematographers Declan Quinn and Tim Fleming, ISC, discussing Declan’s extensive work, including collaborations with Jim Sheridan and Broadway's "Hamilton." This insightful conversation promises to provide a deep dive into the world of cinematography.
Tanqueray Film Club - In Conversation with Trudie Styler
18:30pm
In the evening, the Tanqueray Film Club presents an exclusive conversation with the renowned Trudie Styler. A key figure in the film industry, Styler's influence can be seen in films like "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch." This event offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into her experiences as a producer and director.
Saturday, 24th February
African Season: Crafting Authentic Narratives
16:00pm - 1hr
A panel of accomplished filmmakers from across Africa will discuss the challenges of sharing diverse cultures with a global audience. The discussion aims to explore different approaches to storytelling while maintaining cultural authenticity.
International Film Programmers Panel 1
10:30am - 1hr
Get ready to supercharge your festival strategy with insights from top-tier Festival Programmers from around the globe. This comprehensive discussion covers festival policies, submission criteria, and crucial deadlines.
Sunday, 25th February
Amy Huberman in Conversation with DIFF Discovery Award Nominees
12:30pm
The Festival Awards champion excellence in filmmaking. Each year a panel of industry judges select a cohort of Discovery Award Nominees and Winners to identify, champion, support and encourage new and emerging talent both in front of and behind the camera.
As part of the Tanqueray 0.0 Film Club, Irish actor, writer and Tanqueray Brand Ambassador Amy Huberman (Finding Joy, 2018, The Stag, 2013, Satellites & Meteorites, 2008) will introduce the ten 2024 nominees, finding out more about them, their work, and how an award like this supports new talent.
Following the In Conversation, the DIFF Award Ceremony will take place. The DIFF Awards offer recognition for every type of film and every kind of filmmaker, at any stage of their career. Your ticket will include access to the ceremony.
Masterclass with Kevin MacDonald
15:00pm - 1hr
The Dublin International Film Festival has invited Scottish film director Kevin Macdonald to give a masterclass on directing in conversation with Ross Whitaker. The Oscar-winning director is known for his feature and documentary films, including One Day in September (1999), Touching the Void (2003), the drama The Last King of Scotland (2006), and the Whitney Houston documentary Whitney (2018). His most recent film, High & Low: John Galliano, is featured in this year’s DIFF programme.
In The Room: The Future of Documentary Cinema
16:30 60mins
With documentary features like Pray For Our Sinners and North Circular drawing audiences to busy cinema screenings, the Irish documentary cinema scene is in good health. But how should this vibrant, dynamic creative sector make the most of the opportunity to play on the big screen? In this age of streaming and social media, what does the in-cinema experience have to offer documentary filmmakers and their audiences?
Using recent Irish documentary projects as case studies, a panel of filmmakers, exhibitors and journalists will discuss the potential and joy of cinema documentary, how cinemas have a new future as both discussion salons and performance spaces, and how to make film screenings into compelling in-person experiences that audiences find unmissable.
Chair: Derek O’Connor (RTE Culture, Sound Film Festival, formerly Darklight Film Festival) Panel: Luke McManus, Filmmaker (North Circular, The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid) Sinéad O’Shea, Filmmaker (Pray For Our Sinner, A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot)Alice Black (Head of Film Programming, Element Cinemas)+ more TBC
Monday, 26th February
IFCO Centenary Lecture Series
14:30pm
To mark the Centenary of the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO), the Dublin International Film Festival is partnering with IFCO to present three vibrant and exciting presentations based on documents in the IFCO Collection in the National Archives.
As part of the Decade of Centenaries, the anniversary also marks the deposit of all the remaining IFCO records from the censorship period to the National Archives. These records represent a fascinating insight into cinema exhibition in Ireland and the central role which censorship played in shaping Irish film culture.
Three emerging film and media students and early career researchers have been selected to review these records and present their findings to the public, on the topics of their choice:
Rachel Heavey
Rachel Heavey is an artist and PhD student at Trinity College Dublin. In this lecture, Rachel will present a creative exploration of materials held in the IFCO collection, examining the relationship between legislation and culture in co-creating society.
Fionnuala Parfrey
Fionnuala Parfrey has a background in film and archives. She currently works as a programme manager in the Royal Irish Academy. Fionnuala’s lecture will explore evolving attitudes to sexual and reproductive health in the records if the Irish Film Censor, tracing how films that address the topic of sexual or reproductive health have been censored and classified since the foundation of the Irish Film Censor’s Office in 1923.
Ciara Whelan
Ciara Whelan is currently studying for her master’s at University College Dublin with plans to pursue her PhD research in crisis masculinity and Irish screen culture in the new academic year. Ciara will be discussing the censorship of imported Hollywood horror cinema in newly independent Ireland in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Analysis of the censorship documents held in the National Archives reveals these films conflicted with the cultivation of a national and homogeneous Catholic sensibility in that early period.
Irish Film Programmers Network Event & Lunch
11:00am
Over the summer of 2020, a small group of Irish film programmers came together to share insights and knowledge about filmmakers, audiences, festival and cinema exhibition, and the move to online screening platforms. These groups expanded rapidly to include many cinemas and film festivals throughout Irelandand the UK.
The group met on a monthly basis to share resources and updates on their events and were often joined by international colleagues who sharedtheir experiences with the group. Since our return to in-person screenings, the monthly meetings have reduced somewhat but the group still meets to welcome new programmers and events and to debate issues relating to film exhibition.
As all of these events were held online – we would like to welcome our programming colleagues to our first in-person event on Monday 26th February at 11 am where we will be joined by Isra from T A P E Collective… and followed by a long over-due lunch.
Seanchoíce
19:00pm
They are collaborating with DIFF to give writers, directors, filmmakers, and other cinema creatives and opportunities to share their stories. The theme of the night is ‘CHILDHOOD’. All stories told will revolve around this theme. Stories may be personal anecdotes, other people’s experiences of someone in your life, pieces, monologues, poetry or anything we consider a story.
Tickets are available from 5pm on 25 Jan.
We will have arranged storytellers on the night, if you would like to take part contact hello@seanchoiche.com
‘Empathy is remembering that everybody has a story. Multiple stories.’ – Kae Tempest
Tuesday, 27th February
Reframing Irish Film
14:00pm - 1hr
ReFocus Irish Film will celebrate the Irish films and filmmakers of colour in DIFF 2024. They will discuss exciting new films, explore previously invisible cultures, forgotten histories, and how filmmakers are challenging stereotypes while designing the future of a new Ireland. Join the filmmakers!
“Dear Jassi” Cinematographer Brendan Galvin ISC In Conversation With Tim Fleming ISC.
16:00pm - 1hr 30mins
A public talk between the Dear Jassi cinematographer Brendan Galvin, ISC, and cinematographer Tim Fleming, ISC, discussing both Brendan’s work on this film, and his long collaboration with director Tarsem Singh as well as his thoughts on cinematography and visual storytelling in general.
International Film Programmers Panel 2
10:30am
Supercharge your Festival strategy with DIFF!
Enhance your Festival strategy by engaging with top-tier Festival Programmers from around the globe: Chaired by Sharon Barry (Culture Ireland). This panel offers a comprehensive discussion on festival policies, submission criteria, and crucial deadlines, providing essential insights for those preparing international festival strategies and aiming at success.
Julia Weigl – Munich International Film Festival (Germany)
Mauricio Kinoshita – Regional Cultural Officer, Latin America and the Caribbean, Consulate General of Ireland, Brazil
Ania Trzebiatowska – Sundance Film Festival (United States)
Ione Hernández –Selection Committee, San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain)
Sven Pötting – 36 Filmfest Dresden (Germany)
Estrella Araiza – Guadalajara IFF – FICG (Mexico)
Wednesday, 28th February
Ireland - France Co-Production Day
10:00am - 21:00pm
The Ireland-France Co-Production Day will present an opportunity to showcase the collaborative efforts between the two nations during the panel, as well as establish new connections during one-on-one sessions between French and Irish film producers.
Co-Production Day is supported by CNC, the French Embassy in Dublin, and Screen Ireland.
Schedule:
10:00-10:30 — Coffee
10:30-11:30 — Introduction and Panel Discussion
•Panelists: Sébastien Aubert, Yann Zenou, Jean des Forêts, Tom Dercourt, Nadia Turcinev, Laureanne Bourrachot
11:30-12:30 — Irish Case Study
•With Jeremiah Cullinane, Gerry Shireen, and Katie Holly
12:30-13:30 — Lunch
13:30-15:30 — Round Table Meetings
16:00-17:30 — Round Table Meetings
Scoring the Story - Focus on Composing Documentary
14:30 60mins
Join us for a panel discussion with composers Denis Clohessy (Breaking Brothers) and Tom Hodge (High & Low – John Galliano) on their approaches to composing for these two documentaries from DIFF 2024 programme. This is an exciting opportunity to hear film composers talk on their wider work in documentary music, on the process involved in bringing score to the screen, on collaborating with filmmakers and share their thoughts on how music contributes to the story.
Tanqueray Film Club - In Conversation with Steve McQueen
18:00 - 2hrs
The Tanqueray Film Club will host an exclusive interview with the award winning director, filmmaker, and Turner Prize winning artist Steve McQueen. Known for titles including his acclaimed first feature Hunger (2008), the multi award winning 12 Years a Slave (2013), and the BAFTA award winning Small Axe series (2021), Steve McQueen will be joined by Irish actor and screenwriter Mark O’Halloran (Conversations with Friends, 2022, Adam & Paul, 2004) who will interview him ahed of the prestigious Volta Award presentation.