F is for Fun Times for Orson Welles fans at the IFI

Fans of classic cinema have plenty to look forward to this August. There are plenty of festivals and seasons to enjoy, not least of which is the Irish Film Institute’s season of films celebrating one of the most highly-regarded directors of all-time. From August 11th – 29th, the IFI will be hosting The Eyes of Orson Welles, a programme of films made by Welles himself, films he was influenced by, and films he would himself influence by other directors.

The season is being held at the IFI to mark the release of Mark Cousins’s new documentary of the same name, The Eyes of Orson Welles, which will be released on the August the 17th. The IFI are taking the opportunity to explore and reflect on the work of the famous filmmaker, looking at his development through some of his most high-profile films. In addition, the influences of Welles will be explored, through classic films that left their mark on the man, including Battleship Potemkin and the “old master” in Welles’ eyes, John Ford. Placed alongside these are perhaps Welles’ three most popular films and, following the thread, three films that can be seen to have been influenced in turn by Welles’s work, more modern classics that the man would either approve of, or envy for not being made by himself…