20th June (Third Friday)

BELFAST

UK | 2021 | 98 mins | Drama/Coming of age | Dir: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie and Caitríona Balfe

Belfast, 15 August 1969.

Surrounded by sporadic violence and growing danger, nine-year-old Buddy finds himself confronted with the ugly reality of sectarian conflict.

As the suffocating stranglehold of increasing turmoil tightens around his once-peaceful working-class neighbourhood, Buddy tries his best to understand ‘The Troubles’. After all, someone must be responsible for forcing people to flee their homes. Now, Buddy’s family must come face to face with a nearly impossible, life-altering decision: should they stay or should they start packing.

Between 2021 and 2023, Belfast won 60 awards, including, in 2022, for Best Original Screenplay (US Academy Awards) and received 255 nominations, including, in 2022, for Best Motion Picture of the Year (US Academy Awards) and for Best Film (BAFTA Awards) and for Best Picture (Critics Choice Awards) and, in 2023, for Best Non-American Film (Bodil Awards).

 

Accompanying Short Film: Proof
US | 2019 | 11 m | Drama Short | Dir: Nora Jaenicke Richard A. Stein | Cast: Preeti Gupta Jacopo Rampini Aalok Rathod.

 

16th May (Third Friday)

I’M NOT SCARED

Italy | 2003 | 108 mins | Thriller/Mystery | Dir: Gabriele Salvatores
Cast: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Dino Abbrescia and Giorgio Careccia

While playing outside one day, nine-year-old Michele discovers Filippo, who is chained to the ground at the bottom of a hole. Michele witnesses town baddie Felice nearby and suspects something bad is happening. Michele is unsure whom he should tell about his discovery, eventually spilling the beans to his closest friend.

Between 2003 and 2006, I’m Not Scared won 14 awards and received 18 nominations, including, in 2005, for Best Non-American Film (Bodil Awards).

 

Accompanying Short Film: La Lune Folle
UK | 2016 | 10 m | Short Drama Fantasy | Dir: Meneka Das | Cast: Siân Phillips, Tara MacGowran, Yasmin Joy Vigua, Paul Fuller, Max Campbell | Awards: Winner Rajasthan International Film Festival Best Short Film (2017); Nominee London, Dehli, British Idependent, Third Eye Asian, Ramsgate International Film Festivals.

 

Palestine/France | 2019 | 97 mins | Comedy/Drama | Dir: Elia Suleiman
Cast: Elia Suleiman, Tarik Kopty and Kareem Ghneim

Like a modern Jacques Tati with a hint of Buster Keaton, the director, writer, and actor, Elia Suleiman, embodies a silent version of himself, coming up with subtle and ingenious ways to portray the Palestinian ghettoisation. This time, in search of homeliness, Suleiman’s alter ego travels from Nazareth to Europe, making the first stop at picturesque Paris to promote his movie, and then, off he goes to bustling New York City. There, he meets his friend, the actor, producer, and writer, Gael García Bernal, who is eager to lend a hand; however, it seems that his film is not Palestinian enough. But, when confronted with life’s inherent absurdity, what else is there to do but sit back and stare in bewilderment?

Between 2019 and 2021, It Must Be Heaven won six awards and received 17 nominations, including, in 2019, a Palme d’Or (Canne Film Festival) and was the Official Submission from Palestine for Best International Feature Film (US Academy Awards).

 

Accompanying Short Film: Love At First Sight
UK | 2010 | 12:40 | Comedy Drama Short | Dir: Michael Davies | Cast: John Hurt Phyllidia Law Barry McCarthy | Awards: Nominated British Independent Film Award for Best Short Film.