The Fingal Film Festival announces ‘Surviving Auschwitz’ as their opening film and Irish thriller ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ to screen at the Cambridge Film Festival.
Fingal Film Festival announces this year’s opening film
With only one month before the 2015 Fingal Film Festival kicks off, the festival team have announced this year’s opening night premiere film, ‘Surviving Auschwitz’, will have its official launch in Ireland ahead of its 2016 release date and they also hope to welcome the cast and crew on the night.
The venue this year is Movies@Swords, Pavilions Centre, Co Dublin, Ireland and festival dates are 25-27th Sept 2015.
‘Surviving Auschwitz’ is a true story, based on one man’s fight for survival. The film tells the harrowing story of a Tunisian Jewish boxer, who became the World Flyweight Champion in 1931 and 1932. Perez started training as a boxer at age 14 along with his older brother Benjamin "Kid". Perez rose to great fame via the help and guidance of Leon Bellier and had a brief relationship with French-Italian actress Mireille Balin. The 5'1", 110-pound Perez won the International Boxing Union's version of the World Flyweight crown with a 2nd-round knockout of American champion Frankie Genaro becoming the youngest world champion in boxing history. Perez was arrested in Paris on September 21, 1943 and detained in the Drancy internment camp France, before being transported to Auschwitz where he was assigned to the Monowitz to serve as a slave labourer Victor Perez arrived at Auschwitz on October 10, 1943, as part of "Transport 60" a group of 1,000. He was held in Auschwitz III/Monowitz. Whilst there he was forced to participate in boxing matches for the amusement of the Nazis. By 1945. Victor had survived 140 bouts in 15 months and won 139. Perez was one of the prisoners on the "Death March that left the camp on January 18, 1945.
A film by director Jacques Ouaniche , ‘Surviving Auschwitz’ stars Brahim Asloum, Isabella Orsini and Bruce Payne.
Speaking about the film, Creative Director Dave Byrne said: “We are delighted that High Fliers Distribution & Picture Tree International have supported us this year by providing us with such a powerful and moving film. This film encompasses everything that we as a film festival are about. Promoting real talent and bringing unique, cultural and inspirational films to cinema goers in the area of Fingal.”
Tickets for the Opening Night film event are limited so attendees are advised to book early. Fingal are offering an early bird deal on all screenings for tickets purchased before 8th September 2015. For more information go to www.fingalfilmfest.com or email pr@fingalfilmfest.com.
The Fingal Film Festival is also putting a callout for volunteers to help out with this year’s festival during weekends and festival week. Duties will include: helping out at the festival booths, handing out flyers and programme information in The Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.
Fingal have stated that volunteers are a vital element in ensuring the smooth running and success of Fingal Film Festival. To volunteer, send a cover letter and CV to pr@fingalfilmfest.com.
UK premiere for Irish Western ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’
Irish indie Western ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ has been selected for the 35th edition of the Cambridge Film Festival and will have its UK premiere on the 9th September as part of the Late at the Light strand.
Written and directed by Patrick Ryan, the film stars Emma Eliza Regan, Emma Willis and Brian Gleeson. It premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh, and received its international premiere at the prestigious Slamdance Film Festival in Park City at the beginning of 2015. Following a sold out US premiere and strong reviews, it was picked up by New York-based Candy Factory Films and is scheduled to be released in the US and Canada this October.
After also being acquired for international distribution by Canadian-based company CinemaVault, the film has gone on to play many international festivals, such as the Transilvania Film Festival in June and the Giffoni Film Festival in July.
The Cambridge Film Festival is described as one of the most historic and longest running film festivals in the UK. It focuses on screening a range of UK and international films that have debuted at leading film festivals. In the past it has played host to the UK premieres of ‘Reservoir Dogs’, ‘Blue Jasmine’ and ‘Broken Flowers’.
The festival programme describes ‘Darkness’ as, “a rugged and bold revenge noir. Wide lenses capture the glorious emerald sprawl of Kerry, with careful characterisation allowing the dark chemistry of the two leads to develop. On a tiny crowdfunded budget of €18,000, Ryan elevates ‘Darkness’ beyond a plain murder mystery, embracing Shakespearian levels of dramatic tension and gory tragedy.”
The film plays at the festival on September 9th and 11th.
