Foyle Film Festival in Northern Ireland Presents 2024 Line-Up of International and Irish Cinema
The Foyle Film Festival, held annually in Derry~Londonderry, Northern Ireland, returns for its 37th edition from November 22 to December 1, 2024. The festival remains a significant platform for showcasing international cinema, Irish filmmaking, and emerging talent, alongside workshops and immersive arts experiences.
Opening and Closing Films
The event opens with John Crowley’s "We Live in Time," a romantic drama starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, courtesy of STUDIOCANAL. Rungano Nyoni’s "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl," a surreal dark comedy, closes the festival. The film was produced by Element Pictures, A24, and BBC Film.
Programme Highlights
The festival features a range of preview screenings, including "Nightbitch" by Marielle Heller, starring Amy Adams, and Jesse Eisenberg’s "A Real Pain," both presented by Searchlight Pictures. The animated film "Flow" and the satire "Rumours," featuring Cate Blanchett, are also part of the line-up.
Global selections include Cannes Grand Prix winner "All We Imagine as Light," "La Cocina" with Rooney Mara, and the political thriller "The Seed of the Sacred Fig." Irish contributions include documentaries "Mrs Robinson" and "Housewife of the Year," and Sam O’Mahoney’s comedy-drama "The Wise Guy."
A retrospective section, Art of Action, will screen classics such as "Seven Samurai," "Oldboy," and "House of Flying Daggers," exploring the influence of Asian action cinema.
Industry and Immersive Arts Events
The Industry Day offers sessions with Break Out Pictures, BFI Doc Society, and others, with a focus on supporting new and established filmmakers. Discussions include Women Leading From the Front, featuring industry figures such as Shona McCarthy, Dearbhla Regan, and Shannon Welby.
The Immersive Arts segment explores technologies like virtual production, animation, and augmented reality. Highlights include VR cinema screenings and discussions with Emmy-nominated director John McDaid.
Special Events
The festival also includes live music performances celebrating Irish film soundtracks, a book launch featuring local authors, and a live recording of the Mind the Time podcast.
Light in Motion Short Film Competition
The Light in Motion Short Film Competition retains its Oscar® and BAFTA accreditations, with an additional BAFTA category for animated shorts. Entries in international, Irish, British, and animated categories will be eligible for further recognition.