International Cinema Archives

Film Festivals,What's On

The East Asia Film Festival arrives on IFI@Home for 2021

Films from Taiwan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam will all be shown online as part of this year’s East Asia Film Festival. Now in its 5th year, this celebration of international cinema is well-embedded in the calendar in the fair city of film, but as with many festivals in our current climate, this year it will be made more widely available as it moves all online. The 2021 East Asia Film Festival will be available later this month on the IFI@Home player.

March 16, 2021
2021, East Asia Film Festival, Film Festivals, IFI, IFI@Home, International Cinema, Irish Film Institute, March, Online, Q&A, What's On

Film Festivals,Reviews

Another Round is a Dark but Welcome Tonic

Director: Thomas Vinterberg Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Lars Ranthe, Magnus Millang Running Time: 115 minutes

Thomas Vinterberg has a curious habit of going to the very darkest corners of humanity and somehow using these dark corners to showcase the most enduring aspects of humanity. A decade ago, Submarino explored the lives of drug addicted and prison bound brothers at the bottom of the Danish socio-economic ladder. More recently, The Hunt took a look at how horrifying but false allegations could implode the lives of even the most innocent of protagonists. What these two films in particular had in common is the desire of the human spirit to survive in the direst of circumstances. Arguably, it could be said that Vinterberg’s films are as much about the power of lasting human connection as the drudgery of human suffering. With Another Round, he again focuses on problematic and dark aspects of Danish society, while injecting a refreshing sense of humor that gives an otherwise gut wrenching story a surprisingly positive hoppy lift.

March 7, 2021
Another Round, DIFF, International Cinema, Mads Mikkelsen, Surprise Film, Thomas Vinterberg, VMDIFF21

Film Festivals,What's On

The programme has arrived for the online Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2021

The full programme for this year’s all-online Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival has been announced. As the biggest film festival in the fair city of film moves all online, the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2021 will serve as a celebration of the power of film to bring people together and explore the world in new ways. Taking place from 3-14 March 2021, the Festival has been re-imagined to bring audiences the best of new films and old classics, all while allowing people to attend the festival safely from their homes. This year VMDIFF will be delivered via the screening portal Eventive.

Features

10 Lesser Known Horror Films For Your Lockdown Trick or Treat Basket

A Halloween spent in lockdown is the perfect time to feast upon the quintessential horror classics that we all love to fear. Whether it’s the head spinning experience of re-watching The Exorcist or binge watching the good, the bad, and the very ugliest of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, we all know how to tell a safe bet from a dodgy Netflix choice just as well as we can tell a good piece of chocolate from an unwanted apple in a trick or treat bag.

But what about the films that have slipped through the cracks? There are many reasons why certain horror films haven’t received the attention they deserve. A lack of advertising, coming out at the wrong time of the year, or maybe because for lots of cinema goers one or two scary films a year is more than enough. For the films on this list however, the reason why you’ve probably never seen them has nothing to do with their quality. These are some of the lesser known but better placed fright fests to satiate your Halloween sweet tooth on this spooky stay at home weekend. This list is not to be confused with an “underrated horror films” selection. That’s an interesting but separate discussion. The films on this list were generally well received critically, but they unfortunately just never seemed to get the reach that they deserved. So sit back, relax, and prepare to be bombarded with a universe of existential horror you probably haven’t yet heard about.

October 30, 2020
Classic Films, Horror, International Cinema, Lists

Film Festivals,What's On

5 Things to feast your eyes on at GAZE 2020

This year’s edition of the GAZE LGBTQ+ Film Festival is a prime example of the quick thinking and compromises that film programmers and festival organisers have had to make in 2020. Usually a fixture of the August Bank Holiday weekend, they waited their time and announced a fantastic programme for 30th September – 4th October. Unfortunately, plans to host live screenings as part of the festival were curtailed by COVID-19 lockdown measures that have been put in place for Dublin, as we’re sure you’re all too aware. The festival, however, soldiers on with aplomb. Aided by the IFI@Home online platform, the programme will proceed, with a great line-up of screenings and events to provide the festival experience. We’ve gone through the full schedule to pick out 5 things at GAZE 2020 you simply cannot miss.

September 29, 2020
GAZE 2020, GAZE International LGBT Film Festival, IFI@Home, International Cinema, Irish Film, Irish Film Institute, LGBTQ, October, Online

Film Festivals,What's On

Subtitle Spotlight European Film Festival returns to the Pavilion Theatre

Been working through our picks of international films you should watch and looking to add even more to your list? You’re just in time for the Subtitle Spotlight European Film Festival, taking place at the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire this weekend, Jan 31st – Feb 2nd. A selection of European subtitled films will invite viewers to see cinema in a whole new way.

January 28, 2020
2020, Casting, Dun Laoghaire, February, Film Festivals, International Cinema, January, Pavilion Theatre, Subtitle

Features

20 International Films to Watch in 2020

There was much discussion about the jokes that Ricky Gervais made at the expense of Hollywood superstars at this year’s Golden Globes. However, what stood out for me was what should have won an award for the “golden quote” of the night. It came from the director of the highly anticipated South Korean film Parasite, Bong Joon-ho. He gave the much needed reminder that:

“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films”.

This really spoke to me- and not just in English. If I could add one addendum to this brilliant insight, it would be that viewing international films also exposes you to different cultural fabrics, different challenges and, different experiences. Aside from that, they’re also very entertaining and remain such an underappreciated cinematic art by large chunks of Western audiences. So in order to help you get over the horrific inconvenience of subtitles, and in light of Bong Joon-ho’s golden quote. Here are 20 international films to watch in 2020.

January 24, 2020
2020, Bong Joon-ho, International Cinema, Lists, Parasite

Film Festivals,News

The programme has arrived for the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2020

The full programme for the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival 2020 was launched at the Light House Cinema in Smithfield this afternoon. VMDIFF Director Gráinne Humphreys announced details of this year’s programme, a 12 day extravaganza of cinema and an opportunity to see the very best of world cinema and film talent in Dublin.

Film Festivals,News

Dogs at DIFF – This year’s Dublin International Film Festival is hosting a dog-friendly film screening

Excitement is beginning to build for this year’s edition of the Dublin International Film Festival. With announcements gradually trickling out from VMDIFF and a full programme announcement taking place next week, the biggest film festival in the Dublin calendar will be upon us again soon and this year’s edition is going to the dogs, in the best way possible. The festival have announced that a dog-friendly screening will be taking place this year, a great opportunity to finally bring a bit of culture into the lives of Dublin’s philistine canines!

Film Festivals,What's On

The Silk Road kicks off Dublin’s film festivals of 2020

The Silk Road International Film Festival is returning to Dublin. One of the first festivals on the calendar in the capital, the festival will be hosting its eighth edition between the 21st & 25th January 2020, screening a variety of international cinema and providing a showcase of features, documentaries, shorts, music videos & student films. The festival this year is being held in January in order to coincide with the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, and will provide the opportunity to begin another exciting year in the fair city of film for those who appreciate celebrating a diverse range of cinema.

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