05/11/2013 - Festival will pay tribute to Nicolas Roeg and have a focus on Mexico as well as a segment on activism in film

The 58th Cork Film Festival (November 9-19), Ireland’s oldest film festival, will open with Alexander Payne’s Nebraska (photo) and close with John Krokidas’ Kill Your Darlings. This year, the festival will pay tribute to Nicolas Roeg and screen a selection of his films. There will be a special Mexican programme including Heli [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], for which Amat Escalante won Best Director in Cannes. Irish features include Dark Touch [+see also:
trailer
film profile] directed by Marina de Van and How to Be Happy by Michael Rob Costine, Mark Gaster and Brian O’Neill. There will also be a segment on activism in film.

James Mullighan, newly appointed Creative Director, said, “Of the several paths via which to navigate our large, diverse programme, I’m especially proud of No! – activism on film. I love being entertained by movies, but I’m a passionate believer in their power to educate, and to stimulate discussion and change. This strand explores filmic depictions of activism, contemporary and historic, and shows how well film itself can be a powerful weapon.”

The festival’s digital and transmedia Emerge event will showcase a series of talks and panel discussions from filmmakers, technologists, transmedia producers and distributors who use emerging technology to find new ways of crafting stories and reaching audiences.

Meanwhile, after the unexpected dismissals of chief executive officer Mick Hannigan and programmer Ùna Feely from the Cork Film Festival earlier this year, the duo have retaliated with the rival IndieCork Film Festival that unspooled October 16-20 with some success.