The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels and the UK Mission to the EU are pleased to invite you to celebrate film from Northern Ireland at the Irish Film Festival Belgium in Cinema Galeries, Brussels on Wednesday 22 March
Join us for:
17:45 – 18:45 Talking Movies Panel on ‘Beyond Brexit and Borders’
This panel discussion will bring together individuals from all aspects of the film sector (production, distribution, exhibition) to showcase to Brussels’ audiences the wonderful cinematic developments happening in Northern Ireland, and share reflections on some of the opportunities, challenges, and more symbolic aspects of what makes Northern Ireland’s screen industries so unique. The panel will include: Alison Millar (Director, Lyra), Michael Barwise (Producer, Hyfin), Nicola Lyons (Production Manager, NI screen), Sara Gunn-Smith (Regional Distributor, NI Film Hub) and Joan Parsons (Cinema Co-ordinator, QFT Belfast
19:00 – 20:30 Screening of Lyra (co-sponsored by UK Mission to the EU)
In April 2019, Northern Irish LGBTQ investigative journalist and writer Lyra McKee was killed during a police raid in Derry. For many, her death was a throwback to the dark days of The Troubles, when sectarian tensions were high. In response to her death, award-winning filmmaker Alison Miller lovingly crafted this cinematic vigil, which honours Lyra’s life, militant spirit and contribution to the LGBTQ community. This documentary, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, is based on Lyra’s work and writings. Watch the trailer here.
21:30 – 23:00 Screening of Wildfire (pre-programme: short film Hyfin (2022) by Seán Mullan)
Cathy Brady’s first film is a psychological drama full of suspense and mystery. Shot on the frontier amid the Brexit crisis, WildFire is a delicate character study that elegantly rhymes the personal with the political. The film explores the story of Kelly, who returns from a long absence to reunite with her sister, causing old ghosts stir in their sleepy border town. Doing their best to reconnect, the two sisters must deal with their own traumas, and come to terms with their own traumatic history as well as the tensions in their community. Watch the trailer here.
To attend, kindly RSVP by emailing BrusselsEvents@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
For more information about the Irish Film Festival Belgium, click here.