'Room', 'Brooklyn', '11 Minutes' and 'The Lobster' Set to Screen at the BFI London Film Festival
Congratulations to the Irish feature films Room, Brooklyn, 11 Minutes and The Lobster, which have been selected to screen at the BFI London Film Festival which takes place in October.
Room is the latest feature from director Lenny Abrahamson and was adapted by Emma Donoghue from her own novel. Told through the eyes of five-year-old-Jack (Jacob Tremblay), Room is a thrilling and emotional tale that celebrates the resilience and power of the human spirit. Also starring Brie Larson, Joan Allen and William H. Macy.
Directed by John Crowley (Intermission), Brooklyn was adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Tóibín's novel. The film begins in 1950's rural Ireland, where opportunities are scarce, particularly for young women like Eilis Lacey. When given the opportunity to emigrate to New York, Eilis knows she must go, leaving behind her mother, sister and home for the first time. The film was acclaimed following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and will be released in Irish cinemas on November 6th.
Irish-Polish co-production 11 Minutes was directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, and follows the same 11 minutes in the lives of several different characters representing aspects of modern society. What they all have in common is an enigmatic sighting of the elusive dark spot, seen in the sky earlier that day, and the tragic chain of events that will seal their fate. The film's cast includes Richard Dormer (Good Vibrations, Game of Thrones).
Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it was the winner of the Jury Prize. A blackly funny love story set in a near future where finding love is a matter of life or death, The Lobster was filmed in Co. Kerry and stars Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw. It will be released in Irish cinemas on October 16th.
Room, Brooklyn, 11 Minutes and The Lobster all received funding from Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board.
Three Irish short films will also screen at the festival: Bone directed by Jenny Brady, The Red Herring directed by Leevi Lemmetty and Red Moon Rising directed by Vivienne Dick.
The BFI London Film Festival is now in its 59th year and will run from October 7th to 18th, welcoming a host of international and European premieres from films around the world. For more on the BFI London Film Festival, see their website here.