With 2016 drawing to a close, it’s time to start looking ahead to what 2017 will have to offer for film fans in Dublin. With that in mind, it’s exciting to watch as next year’s edition of the Audi Dublin International Film Festival continues to take shape. Two new films, including next year’s Closing Gala, have been added to the lineup.
Last month, ADIFF announced that Irish talents Jack Reynor and Cillian Murphy will be joining director Bem Wheatley for the Audi Gala screening of their film Free Fire on February 23. This week, ADIFF announced that the Closing Gala of the festival, which takes place from February 16-26, will be the Irish premiere of Handsome Devil.
Irish film Handsome Devil is directed by novelist and filmmaker John Butler, whose previous film The Stag was also a festival closer in 2014. Handsome Devil is a coming-of-age story about the bullied outsider Ned and macho athlete Conor, who are forced to room together at their rugby-loving boarding school. The two become friends and find themselves tested by two teachers vying for their focus; Moe Dunford as the private school’s rugby coach and Andrew Scott as its English teacher. Tickets for this Irish premiere are already on sale, with the film showing on Sunday February 26 at 8pm at the Savoy.
Also announced by ADIFF was another Irish premiere, also concerning the experience at an Irish boarding school, with In Loco Parentis being confirmed to be shown at the festival. Neasa Ní Chianáin’s documentary is also set to be shown at Sundance next year, as part of the festival’s World Cinema Documentary Competition. In Loco Parentis will be shown as part of ADIFF at the Light House Cinema on February 20 & 23.