A number of A list celebrities are set to head over to Dublin over the next few weeks ahead of the Dublin International Festival (DIFF).
The festival, which runs from February 19 to March 1, will host 83 feature films, 17 world premieres and 53 short films. It will also feature some top names from the world of showbusiness at this festival, according to DIFF organisers.
Such names include, Colin Farrell, Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas, while Masie Williams, Bill Nighy, Alice Kirge, as well as Chris Colfer, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Bolger, Katie McGrath, Clare Dunne, Aidan Gillen and Éanna Hardwicke will also attend.
Fans will have the chance to meet international stars up close at this festival.
Speaking ahead of the festival, director Gráinne Humphreys said the the mission of the DIFF is all about promoting cultural cinema and expanding Irish audiences' engagement with world film.
"We are proud of the range and diversity of this year’s programme,’ she said, noting new venues, partnerships and a fresh collaboration with Bord Gáis Energy Theatre", Humphreys said. "There are lots of firsts this year, and we’re excited to welcome new audiences while reconnecting with loyal attendees".
The festival will begin with a world premiere of Once Upon A Time In A Cinema, directed by David Gleeson, before closing with the musical, Power Ballad, directed by John Carney. It stars Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd.
"I'm delighted to have our film, Power Ballad, close this year's festival", Carney said. "It's apt to go out, after so many great films, with a bang of music and fun. Who wouldn't want to watch Paul Rudd throw Nick Jonas off a balcony? (Seriously, that happens in our movie.)".
New Irish documentaries are also on the menu, subjects including: Eamon Ryan (Forever Is Now), Guggi (Guggi), Jonah Lomu (Lomu), Colin Farrell (The Slightest Touch), Niall McDevitt (Every Moon is Atrocious) and Charlie O’Leary (The Charlie O’Leary Story).
It will also include special screenings showing the best of International acting talent: Everybody Digs Bill Evans (Bill Pullman), Midwinter Break and The Three Urns (Ciarán Hinds), The Lightkeeper (Dominic Cooper), Gorky Resort (Aidan Gillen), Whitetail (Nanouk Leopold), Crazy Love (John Connors), The Restoration at Grayson Manor (Chris Colfer), and No Ordinary Heist (Colin McIvor) starring Eddie Marsan, Éanna Hardwicke and Eva Birthistle.
Last September, the trailer for the Ballad Of A Small Player starring Colin Farrell was released. Find out more here.
