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:

Talking Movies Panel

on 'Beyond Brexit and Borders'
17:45 - 18:45

Screening of Lyra

(co-sponsored by UK Mission to the EU)
19:00 - 20:30

Screening of Wildfire

pre-programme: short film Hyfin (2022) by Seán Mullan
21:30 - 23:00

There will be a drinks reception between the screenings of the two films.

To attend, kindly RSVP using the button below

or by emailing BrusselsEvents@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

indicating which elements of the event you would like to attend.

Places are limited for this event and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Please note that tickets for this event can also be purchased by the general public here.

Talking Movies panel:

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 and Seán Mullan (Producer and Director, Hyfin), Nicola Lyons (Production Manager, NI screen), Sara Gunn-Smith (Regional Distributor, NI Film Hub) and Joan Parsons (Cinema Co-ordinator, QFT Belfast).

LYRA

In April 2019, Northern Irish 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 film, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, is based on Lyra's work and writings. Watch the trailer here.

WILDFIRE

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.

For more information about the Irish Film Festival Belgium, click here.