The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival opened last night with the Irish première of Berlin Film Festival winner In This World.
The week-long festival, which features some 66 films from over 30 countries, started with a screening of the Michael Winterbottom film at the Savoy cinema in Dublin. Winterbottom, who also directed Roddy Doyle's Family TV series, was present to introduce his film.
"It's basically a road movie about two illegal Afghan refugees who journey from Peshawar to London. I did the journey myself last year with Jamal and Enayatullah" he told The Irish Times.
"I hope it gets a good reaction."
Roddy Doyle also attended the première, as did Family cast members Ger Ryan, Sean McGinley and Neili Conroy.
"I see this really as the revival of the old film festival," said Doyle. "It's much needed. The city was crying out for it.
"Michael Winterbottom directed Family 10 years ago and I always feel very grateful for that."
Filmmaker Jim Sheridan was also there to lend his support. "We need something for the industry right now. There's a great standard of films on all week," he said.
His latest, In America, will screen tonight. "I wanted it in the festival to support the festival," he said.
Festival programmer Michael Dwyer said he was thrilled at the response so far. "It's going to be a hectic eight days. A huge number of people have taken holidays off work to come for a week's viewing," he said.
Thousands of Irish filmmakers and cinema-goers are expected to attend screenings over the next week.