4th British and Irish Film Season gets rolling

Luxembourg's fourth British and Irish Film Season kicked off gently on Wednesday with a feel-good family comedy screened at Utopolis cinema.

Life's a Breeze, directed by Lance Daly, is a heart-warming tale of one Dublin family's efforts to track down a mattress containing the life savings of the grandmother, expertly played by Fionnula Flanagan.

Trawling the streets of Dublin and landfill sites, their search brings family tensions to the fore, with characters which will be family to most families.

The film is one of 11 Irish and British productions to be screened over two weeks until October 8 and for those who missed it, it will be screened again at 9.30pm on October 5.

Speaking at the festival launch Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg Diarmuid O'Leary said both he and British Ambassador Alice Walpole were “pleased and proud” to support the film season.

“It's an opportunity for us to promote our respective cultures which probably aren't all that different,” he said, adding: “Also it's an opportunity for us to showcase the very best talent in film making in Ireland and Britain and I think that's particularly important in Luxembourg where good cinema and good film is so much respected and appreciated.”

This year's selection represents all countries in Ireland and Britain except for Wales. According to organiser Geoff Thompson, the Welsh film he hoped to show, Svengali, was not available.

However, the line-up promises an interesting mix of screenings, at some of which actors and directors will be present.

For example, on September 27, actress Maxine Peake, who has appeared in Shameless and Dinner Ladies, among others, will attend the screening of Run and Jump and will be available to answer questions.

An unnamed special guest is also expected to attend the final screening of Rush, Ron Howard's movie about the 1976 Formula One season and the rivalry between drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, shown on October 7.

This year, the festival offers cinéphiles the chance to participate in an industry masterclass, a young journalist competition and a Whiskey Dinner on October 4.

For further information and to see the programme of screenings, visit www.bifilmseason.lu