The Office of The Northern Ireland Executive was thrilled to take part in Scéal Eile, the 2024 Irish Film Festival Belgium, which celebrates film from across the Island of Ireland. On 23 April ONIEB sponsored screenings of two Northern Irish films, The Last Rifleman and Lie of the Land as part of the festival’s weeklong programme. Both films were excellent examples of the depth of creativity from the Northern Ireland Film Industry, which has been enjoying growing success in the past few years, supported by NI Screen.
We were delighted to be joined by The Last Rifleman Director Terry Loane who introduced the film and told the story of how screenwriter Kevin Fitzpatrick developed the script, inspired by true events. The Last Rifleman is a moving and heartfelt drama starring Pierce Brosnan as Artie Crawford, a World War II veteran who travels Normandy to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, and by the end of the film there was not a dry eye in the house.
The evening continued with a screening of Lie of the Land held at Cinema Aventure. The audience were on the edge of their seats as a tense drama unfolded in Director John Carlin’s first feature film. The genre-crossing film, which follows the harrowing story of the Wards, an ageing farming couple who are preparing to abandon their lives when a last-minute change of heart leaves them fighting for survival, had the audience laughing and gasping throughout the film.
Scéal Eile is the result of dedication and hard work from organiser Declan Lynch, and ONIEB is glad to have the opportunity to take part and share two fantastic Northern Ireland films with a Brussels audience.