PICK OF THE WEEK
Belfast Film Festival
This year the Belfast Film Festival celebrates 20 years since it first cracked open a film can, with a fine line up of new and classic work, plenty of discussions and some great site-specific options.
Mark Cousins and local man David Holmes will be pimping the wares of I Am Belfast, which takes a fragmented look at the city and walks a fine line between memoir, documentary and fantasy. There is the option to take in Eraserhead with a live score from French band Coffin (it’s going to be tricky to get a baby to scream for that long). This is particularly ambitious when you remember that David Lynch and sound designer Alan Splet worked on the soundtrack for a full year.
There’s also the chance to watch Network in an actual TV studio, though if you launch into your own angry, inspired rant expect to be ushered out the door. Elsewhere, Wireless Mystery Theatre will be recreating Dial M for Murder in their own radio-centric style.
There’s also the Maysles Brothers Award which recognises the best of new observational documentary work from around the world. Among those who will be in town for Q&As are director Michael Lennox (Boogalo and Graham), Terry George (Hotel Rwanda), Peter Snowden (The Uprising) and Sophia and Georgia Scott (In the Shadow of War).
Get yourself to Belfast so – you might even learn a thing or two. The festival runs from April 16th to 25th. See belfastfilmfestival.org.
ART
Trinity's College Gallery: The Swing of the Sixties
Lismore Castle Art Gallery, Lismore, Co Waterford Until Jun 7
lismorecastlearts.ie
At the end of the 1950s, George Dawson set up a remarkable picture-hire scheme in Trinity College, the beginning of the college’s Modern Art Collection. This great selection of 30 1960s acquisitions includes pieces by Irish and international artists, from Josef Albers (right) to Victor Vasarely, plus Mick O’Dea’s portrait of Dawson.
CLASSIC ALBUM
Trouble Pilgrims
Toner’s Pub Dublin 4pm €10/€8
The Radiators from Space classic debut punk album, TV Tube Heart, will be played in its entirety at this gig, which is the kickstarter for a series of shows from redoubtable degenerates of a certain age and old-school musicians. Pre- and post-show choons courtesy of DJ Karl Tsigdinos.
