A 1936 Hollywood film on the life of Michael Collins, by legendary movie- maker Samuel Goldwyn, will be among the highlights at the 50th Cork Film Festival this year.
The film, Beloved Enemy, was recently restored by the Irish Film Archive. It stars Merle Oberon, Brian Ahearne and David Niven, and is based on an alleged love affair between Collins and Lady Lavery against the backdrop of the War of Independence.
The festival runs from October 9th to October 16th. Other highlights unveiled yesterday include Walk the Line, a chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash, and French director Andre Techine's latest offering, Strayed, starring Emmanuelle Beart.
The festival will also screen established producer Stephen Woolley's directorial debut Stoned, which chronicles the life and suspicious death of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones just weeks after being let go by the band.
Woolley - he was producer on Michael Collins, Breakfast on Pluto and The End of the Affair - is the subject of one of three tributes at this year's festival, with the festival also paying tribute to Queer Screen, the Sydney-based gay and lesbian film group.
The other tribute is to Irish film-maker Louis Marcus who, born in Cork in 1936, has made over 80 documentaries and short films, and has been honoured with international awards in Berlin, Moscow, London and Chicago.
Festival director Mick Hannigan revealed yesterday that to mark the film festival's gala jubilee it will take a step back in time by hosting a drive-in movie in the Showgrounds in Ballintemple.
"For the first time in the history of the festival, members of the public will be able to sit outside, gaze up at the stars in the sky and watch classic movies from the comfort of their cars," said Mr Hannigan.
In addition to the tributes and the drive-in movie, the festival will also be a showcase for Irish films, including its popular Made in Cork section and the Outlook Gay and Lesbian Programme.
The festival, in association with Cork 2005, will also host a short film symposium which will be attended by 125 delegates.
