Galas
2024 Programme
CONCLAVE - OPENING GALA
Fiction
The Pope has died and Cardinal Lawrence (a quietly commanding Ralph Fiennes) must lead the Conclave, one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events, to select the new leader of the Catholic world. Surrounded by high-ranking cardinals, the hallowed hallways of the Vatican become the locked-down stage where this timely and tense papal thriller – that rivals anything a political election could conceive – plays out. Adapted by Peter Straughan (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) from Robert Harris’s best-selling novel and directed by recent Oscar winner Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the stellar cast, including Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini and Ireland’s Brian F. O’Byrne (in attendance), delivers a heart-stopping thriller where deep secrets and factions are revealed that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church. The ever-unwinding drama, amplified by stunningly sumptuous cinematography and a towering score maintains its surprise and intrigue right up to the finale.
Courtesy of Black Bear.
THU 7 | EVERYMAN | 19:00
BLUE ROAD : THE EDNA O'BRIEN STORY - IRISH GALA
Documentary
With the release of her revolutionary 1960 novel The Country Girls, Edna O’Brien sealed her fate as both a revered novelist and a feminist icon. Blue Road explores her life as a literary sensation and social radical.
Sinead O’Shea’s thoughtful documentary weaves effectively O’Briens professional and personal triumphs and difficulties, in a portrait of an iconoclast who stood in resistance to the Irish conservative doctrine of the mid-twentieth century.
Featuring an insightful and affecting interview with Edna from just before her passing, the film richly honours her legacy, as well as her profound passion and dedication to art.
Filmmaker Sinéad O’Shea will be in attendance
SUN 10 | EVERYMAN | 17:00
FOX AND HARE SAVE THE FOREST - FAMILY GALA
Fiction
Strange things are happening in the forest! In the morning after Fox and Hare’s party with their friends, Owl has disappeared, mischievous Rats are terrorising the neighbourhood, and an overflowing lake is threatening homes. Could this be the work of a megalomaniac beaver, desperate to be admired by others?
Fox and Hare are determined to find out, rescue Owl and save their beloved forest! It will put their friendship to the test. This highly entertaining and heartwarming adventure, enjoyable at all ages, truly has its heart in the right place: friendship and loyalty, solidarity, respect for differences, forgiveness and, last but not least, nature’s preservation.
This Gala will be introduced by Will Sliney (RTÉ Storytellers)
SAT 16 | EVERYMAN | 11:00
THE MAKING OF A JAPANESE - DOCUMENTARY GALA
Documentary
What are the traits necessary to become part of Japanese society? Following the pupils of a public elementary school in Tokyo for a year, we observe a school system that might differ from other countries. Alongside studying, the children learn about self-discipline, community spirit and good manners. The fine balance between individualism and being respectful towards others is tested on a daily basis. Japanese/British director Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s position as both an insider and outsider in Japan enables a fruitful combination of empathy and curiosity that viewers happily adopt for themselves. This immersion by Ema’s side is incredibly eye-opening, and we share her understanding of how important childhood years are.
Director Ema Ryan Yamazaki and producer Eric Nyari will attend the Gala and also participate in Doc Day
FRI 15 | EVERYMAN | 20:00
NIGHTBITCH - AWARDS GALA
Fiction
In this wildly entertaining and original exploration of motherhood and identity – somewhere between comedy, drama and dark fantasy – Amy Adams plays Mother, a former artist who has moved out of the city. She says with her toddler in their new suburban home while her husband is away (a lot) for business. Routine defines her life now, from meal time to playground time to Baby Book Time, where she struggles to connect with other mums. Unable to keep her emotions bottled up inside much longer, she begins to see and hear things in the night. Something primal and feral rises up within her.
Director Marielle Heller (Can You Ever Forgive Me) adapts Rachel Yoder’s 2021 bestselling novel and gives all her attention to the women who can’t quite be content with the limited space society has in store for them. The demands placed on mothers, on wives (…on all women?) are essentially unfair, she tells us, and it is a duty to consider them both with the utmost seriousness and to laugh out loud about them.
And then there is Amy Adams. Beautiful. Real. Fearless. Demanding to be heard and to be seen. We are happy to oblige.
This Gala screening will include the presentation of CIFF Features Awards (Best New Irish, Spirit of the Festival, Documentary).
SAT 16 | EVERYMAN | 19:30
RUMOURS - CLOSING GALA
Fiction
In this exhilarating dark comedy, the seven leaders of the world’s richest liberal democracies meet at their annual G7 summit, hosted by the German chancellor. They soon become spectacles of incompetence, contending with increasingly surreal obstacles as night falls in the misty woods and they realise they are alone. Is the end near? And if it is, could it be Canada’s chance to prove itself as a leading nation? Its prime minister (a very funny Roy Dupuis) is certainly given all due attention by fellow citizen Evan Johnson, who wrote this daring satire and co-directed it with brother Galen Johnson and free spirit hero Guy Maddin.
It is a testament to the creative trio’s sagacity that every spectator whose nationality is represented in Rumours seems to leave it with the feeling that they were faithfully represented by their fictional leader. Indeed, despite the French president being reliably full of himself (Denis Ménochet is immense) and Cate Blanchett’s hilarious turn in Merkel-like pink blazer and smooth bob-cut, the portraits never give in to gross caricature. Imagination may take the filmmakers into wild territories, but always on the grounds of a sharp understanding of global geopolitics and subtle cultural differences. All hail Canada!
This Gala screening will include the presentation of the CIFF Lookout and Audience Awards.
Cinematographer Stefan Ciupek will attend for a Q&A.
Courtesy of Universal.
SUN 17 | EVERYMAN | 19:30
