Sun sets on another exceptional Dingle International Film Festival

As the sun set on Sunday evening with the final screening of Jim Sheridan's "The Scret Scripture" followed by a  Q&A with the director, Maurice Galwey and all concerned with the 11th Dingle International Film Festival  can be extremely satisfied with their efforts to bring the viewing public a film festival that just goes from strength to strength.

Director Ben Wheatley and yours truly at Free Fire screening

The Dingle Interantional Film Festival got off to an explosive start on Thursday night with the opening feature Free Fire along with a riveting Q&A with director Ben Wheatley and star Jack Reynor.
Friday saw the beginning of the always popular Animation Dingle as well as a list of high quality short films on show thoughout the town.
I caught the exceptional "Hopper:In his own words" in the incredible setting of St James Church followed by a Q&A with director Cassie Warner.

Cassie Warner was kind enough to answer any questions I had on her exceptional documentary on Dennis Hopper

Friday night was a return to the wonderful Phoenix Cinema and a showing of the fantastic Timothy Spall in numerous roles in Stanley:A man of Variety followed by a Q&A with director Stephen Cookson and producer Peter Keegan.

Director Stephen Cookson and producer Peter Keegan discuss Stanley:A Man of Variety

Saturday saw the first Dingle Film Festival POW WOW at Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir as creative minds of the film and TV industry shared their knowledge to a captive audience.

Independent filmmakers taking counsel at DIFF

The screening of Clint Eastwoods latest offering "Sully" with a Q&A with scriptwriter Todd Komarnicki in The Phoenix Cinema on Saturday evening was undoubtedly another highlight of the festival.

Todd Komarnicki taking questions from John Maguire at screening of Sully

With one last day of the Dingle Internantional Film Festival remaining, the programme for the Sunday of the festival was in keeping with the previous three days with lots of high quality screenings on show.
The screening of Late Blossom Blues and subsequent Q&A with director Wolfgang Pfoser Almer got the day off to fantastic start.

Director Wolfgang Pfoser Almer fielding questions at Late Blossom Blues screening on Sunday.

Such was the popularity of the Dingle Women in Film screening that a second showing of these exceptional short movies had to be organised to accomodate the massive interest.

Capacity crowd at Dingle Women in Film at St James Church

The Phoenix Cinema was the setting of the last two feature screenings of the festival, the first being Twice Shy, a modern coming-of age-drama, centering around a young couple on a road trip from Ireland to London because of an unplanned pregnancy written and directed by Tom Ryan and starring Pat Shortt and Ardal O'Hanlon. Tom Ryan, producer Fionn Greger and Pat Shortt were all at this screening and took part in a Q&A after the film.

Pat Shortt at the screening of his latest film Twice Shy at DIFF

The final screening of the festival was The Secret Scripture directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Jack Reynor, Rooney Mara and Eric Bana. Jim Sheridan was present on the night for an insightful Q&A session after the showing of the film.

Jim Sheridan at Q&A session of The Secret Scripture

As the curtain fell on another successful Dingle International Film Festival, vistitors to West Kerry were blessed with beautiful weather highlighting the wonderful setting of the region outdoors and treated to some highly informative and entertaining programming indoors!
Overall, yet another fantastic four days had by all at the 2017 Dingle Interantional Film Festival.
Roll on 2018!