Glenrothan

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto International Film Festival -

The legendary Brian Cox makes his directorial debut with this compelling family drama, set in the stunning Scottish Highlands and co-starring Alan Cumming.

When his beloved Chicago blues club burns down, Donal (Cumming) returns to his family-owned whisky distillery in the Scottish Highlands for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Donal didn’t leave Scotland on the best terms, having wound up in a violent exchange with his brother Sandy (Cox) and their father on the day of their mother’s funeral.

Joined by his daughter Amy (Alexandra Shipp, Barbie), Donal returns to his homeland in the hopes of making amends with his brother. But with old wounds running deep and the fate of the family business on the line, can inner peace finally be found before it’s too late?

Written by David Ashton (The Last King of Scotland) and accomplished TV writer Jeff Murphy (Hinterland), Glenrothan explores the complexities of familial bonds, set against the proud and timeless tradition of whisky making.

Cumming gives one of his best on-screen performances, opposite Cox who brings gravitas to every scene - both in front of and behind the camera.

STARRING: Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Shirley Henderson, Alexandra Shipp

DIRECTED BY: Brian Cox

Words of War

From James Strong, director of the acclaimed mini-series Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Words of War tells the powerful true story of world-renowned journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya.

Maxine Peake (also starring in I Swear at this year’s Festival) expertly portrays Politkovskaya’s brave crusade, putting her life in jeopardy by fighting to be an independent voice of truth for the Russian people. She refused to give up reporting on the war in Chechnya despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence, including being poisoned.

Sparring with Peake on the silver screen is Jason Isaacs, in the role of Politkovskaya’s husband Sasha - a TV journalist who can barely hide his jealousy of his wife’s success. Irish screen legend Ciarán Hinds also joins the cast as Dmitry Muratov, Anna’s editor of the independent paper Novaya Gazeta.

Politkovskaya’s legacy lives on, and her story serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the right to report the news without fear of death or reprisal.

STARRING: Maxine Peake, Ciarán Hinds, Jason Isaacs

DIRECTED BY: James Strong

Christy

- WINNER: Grand Prix, Berlin International Film Festival Generation -
- WINNER: Best Irish Film, Galway Film Fleadh -

Seventeen-year-old Christy is at a crossroads. He’s just been thrown out of his pleasant suburban foster home and moved in with his estranged older brother Shane. As far as Shane is concerned this is a temporary arrangement, but Christy begins to feel at home on Cork’s working class north side. As he makes friends and begins to let the community in, he also reconnects with his past through his seemingly more corrupting extended family, despite Shane’s efforts to steer him away from this crowd.

Shane wants something better for Christy at any cost – even if it means he has to push him away. After so many years apart, the brothers need to now reconcile their turbulent past whilst deciding what the future looks like.

Christy draws inspiration from the lived experiences of the young people involved, assembling much of its ensemble cast from the Kabin Studio in Cork, a non-profit community space that has grown out of a love for hip hop and art.

Winner of The Grand Prix at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, as well as Best Irish Film at the Galway Film Fleadh, Christy is a punchy drama not to be missed.

STARRING: Danny Power, Diarmuid Noyes, Emma Willis, Cara Cullen

DIRECTED BY: Brendan Canty

Christmas Karma

From visionary British director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Blinded By The Light), Christmas Karma sees ones of history’s greatest novels - Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol transformed into a joyous, colourful, feel-good Christmas musical that celebrates modern-day London and all of its vibrant communities and cultures. With an all-star cast and music from Gary Barlow, Nitin Sawhney and Shaznay Lewis, the film features an eclectic soundtrack influenced by gospel, bhangra, carols, rap and classic pop songs. Christmas Karma is a festive British classic for our times, and for generations to come, that promotes a strong message to be kind, choose love and celebrate the present.

STARRING: Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria, Billy Porter, Boy George, Hugh Bonneville, Danny Dyer, Pixie Lott, Leo Suter

DIRECTED BY: Gurinder Chadha

Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man

- WINNER: Best International Documentary, Galway Film Fleadh -

Irish republican leader Gerry Adams is one of the most controversial political leaders and visionaries of our time, having led the people of the North of Ireland from conflict to peace.

Adams was a critical voice in the decision taken independently by the IRA to lay down their arms after their twenty-five-year war against the British. Imprisoned and shot, he was demonised and censored by dominant media as a subversive and a terrorist.

Ultimately, the British and their allies were forced to recognize his legitimacy and negotiate with him - and his party Sinn Féin - the Irish peace accord known as ‘The Good Friday Agreement’.

Today, Adams supports the next generations on their peaceful and inclusive path toward Irish unity.

An intensely private man, protecting his family from the public eye, Adams tell his story for the first time in this eye-opening documentary. Interwoven with his words, a wealth of imagery of what is one of the most documented conflicts of our time gives an insight into Adams’ world - relaxed, informal, and uncensored.

DIRECTED BY: Trisha Ziff

Twiggy

- OFFICIAL SELECTION: BFI London Film Festival 2024 -

An intimate, star-studded dive into the birth of an icon, and everything that followed, Twiggy is a look at the life of the greatest ‘it-girl’ of all time.

Director Sadie Frost follows up her 2021 documentary Quant with another deep dive into the story of a fashion legend. This time it’s the model and cultural icon Dame Lesley Lawson - better known as Twiggy.

This slick documentary features a combination of fascinating archival footage and new interviews with stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Paul McCartney, Charlotte Tilbury, Joanna Lumley, and many more.

Telling her story for the first time herself, Twiggy is an exploration of the model’s upbringing, career, relationships, and everything else that has made her the woman she is today.

STARRING: Twiggy, Dustin Hoffman, Paul McCartney, Joanna Lumley

DIRECTED BY: Sadie Frost