Film Hub Fortnightly – October (part 2)

This 15^th October sees the opening of the 2020 edition of the Belfast International Arts Festival. Spread over 16 days, across multiple venues and many different arts, this year also includes a robust film programme. On the 13^th, it opens with a free, online screening of One Day Pina Asked… (1989), a documentary from the great filmmaker Chantal Akerman about the legendary choreographer Pina Bausch. On the 15^th at the Strand Arts Centre, you can see Sarafina! (1992), a musical set in South Africa and starring Whoopi Goldberg as a teacher and activist determined to put on a production about Nelson Mandela. Route 66 (1985), a documentary about the road and its music, by John T. Davis, will also be showing online, for free, via the QFT Player from the 16^th to the 18^th. While on the 17^th at the Queen’s Film Theatre, you can see another documentary about musical americana, inspired by the Davis film, called Southern Journey (Revisited) (2015). The concert film André Rieu: 70 Years Young (2020), will be showing on the 25^th at the Strand, while Asunder (2016), an archival documentary that recreates life in Sunderland during the First World War, will be showing at the QFT on the 1^st of November. More information about the film programme and other events can be found at the festival website.

Meanwhile, the BFI London Film Festival continues its stay at the Queen’s Film Theatre. On the 14^th, you can see Another Round (2020), an alcohol fuelled, Danish comedy drama starring Mads Mikkelson. David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020), a concert film directed by Spike Lee about the legendary musician’s Broadway musical, will screen on the 15^th while on the 16^th you can see Nomadland (2020), which stars Frances McDormand as a lone wanderer. The festival will conclude with two British films. Ammonite (2020), starring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in a period love story, will screen on the 17^th while on the 18^th you can see After Love, which stars Joanna Scanlan as a recent widow who discovers that her late husband might have been holding a secret.

Cinemagic have also been throwing their own festival, in conjunction with the QFT Player. Available until the 16^th, you can see a series short film programmes. From highlights from the Oska Bright Festival to shorts that are nautical themed or are about deafness, disability and difference. From the 16^th to the 1^st of November, they will be showing the shortlist of this year’s Young Filmmaker contest, with films organized by theme. More information can be found at the QFT Player or at the Cinemagic website.

There are many other films showing at the QFT this month. Playing until the 15^th, there is the horror film Saint Maud (2019) and Kajillionaire (2020), which starts Evan Rachel Wood, Debra Winger and Richard Jenkins as a family of con artists. Between the 16^th and 22^nd, you can see I Am Greta (2020), a documentary about climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Rebecca (2020), a new adaptation of the Daphne Du Maurier novel starring Armie Hammer and Lily James and directed by Ben Wheatley. There will be another Exhibition on Screen with a filmed showing of Frida Kahlo’s works running from the 20^th to the 22^nd. While this time the critic Mark Kermode will be presenting his regular movie night remotely and showing Bait (2019), the distinctive Cornish drama, on the 24^th. Drama Poster Boys (2020) will be showing on the 25^th, followed by a virtual discussion with its director. While from the 25^th through into November, there will also be a run of Wolfwalkers (2020), the new film from acclaimed Irish animators Cartoon Saloon. This month’s listings conclude with some Halloween inspired programming as the Dark Hedges Film Festival will be showing vampire classic Fright Night (1985) on the 30^th and Host (2020), a Zoom set horror film, on Halloween night.

The Strand Arts Centre will also be showing Kajillionaire (2020) and I Am Greta (2020) and are still showing Tenet (2020), Bill and Ted Face the Music (2020), Memories of Murder (2003) and Airplane! (1980). There are a few family friendly events this month with new releases The Elfkins (2019) and Cats and Dogs 3: Paws Unite! (2020) showing until the 15^th and regular strand Minors Club will be presenting another round of screening + workshops with The Borrowers (1997) and the  drama class on the 17^th. Followed by Brother Bear (2003) and leaf printmaking on the 24^th. There will be two silver screenings of Three Coins in the Fountain (1954) on the 15^th and 22^nd and two of the concert film Michael Ball and Alfie Boe: Back Together (2020) on the 17^th and 18^th. Banterflix will be down at Strand Arts Centre, with the Dark Hedges Film Festival, which includes Christian Bale starring slasher American Psycho (2000) on 35mm which will show on the 24^th  and on the 31^st you can see Vivarium (2019), an Irish sci-fi starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots. Full listings for the festival are here.

If you want more horror on your Halloween, the Black Box will be screening the classic horror film An American Werewolf in London (1980) as a festival finale.

By Ruairí McCann

More details about booking, social distancing measures and complete listings can be found at each cinema’s website, details of which are collated here as part of Film Hub NI's #backtocinemaNI campaign.