Helen Barlow reflects on a festival in which fabulous females, streaming TV shows and Irish actors took centre stage.

FILM TIPS: The Young Offenders is in cinemas today and you’d imagine the Cork comedy will do flying business in its home city over the weekend, as well as drawing plenty punters in foreign counties. 

Des O’Driscoll picks the best things to do this week

Just like the protagonist of his latest film, Pedro Almodovar admits that the weight of years gone by have had an effect on him, writes Helen Barlow

Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or-winning film I, Daniel Blake has been chosen for the New York Film Festival. The British director’s movie about a struggling unemployed man was one of 25 announced for the festival’s main line-up.

BECOMING a mother is a life-changing experience for women, yet many pregnancy books tend to focus on the scientific element: the day-to-day development and growing changes of the baby inside the placenta, what to pack in your hospital bag and what to expect during labour.

And of course it's just plain weird.

Hollywood stars Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are ending their 18-year marriage.

The Abbey has marked William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday by producing Twelfth Night, says Pádraic Killeen.

You wait ages for a good revenge thriller to come along, and then Dead Man Down (15A) packs two revenge scenarios into the same movie.

Over 100 personalities from across Europe have come together in support of the threatened Erasmus programme.

Ghosts of Spain

Silent film 'The Artist' made a big noise at the Bafta film awards last night winning seven awards including Best Film, Leading Actor and Best Director.

Silent film ‘The Artist’ made a big noise at the BAFTA film awards tonight winning seven awards including Best Film, Leading Actor and Best Director.

AS editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, Glenda Bailey has seen some pretty fantastic things — “epic moments,” she calls them.

After 20 years, actor Antonio Banderas is working with director Pedro Almodovar again. It was worth the wait, says Helen Barlow

Scottish director Lynne Ramsay’s new film is in the running for the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize.

OSCAR-WINNING director Roman Polanski yesterday challenged his detention in Switzerland over a 32-year-old child sex case in the United States, as leading Hollywood figures rallied to his cause.

Penelope Cruz is "addicted" to working with Pedro Almodovar.

Penelope Cruz caused "sexual desire" in the gay director of 'Broken Embraces'.

Penelope Cruz acted as a go-between passing messages between two legendary directors while making her latest film, she revealed today.

Oscar winner Penelope Cruz is battling a bout of food poisoning in the south of France after arriving at the Cannes Film Festival to promote her new movies 'Nine' and 'Broken Embraces'.

A FAMILY drama starring an actor who grew up in Kerry and a first-time actress competes for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival today.

THE Cannes film festival rolled out its red carpet with an old-style mix of humour and emotion yesterday, as the animated comedy Up lifted the mood at the start of cinema’s biggest and glitziest gathering.

Talk of recession was put away tonight as the Cannes Film Festival got under way in upbeat mood.

AN award-winning film by acclaimed Dublin playwright Conor McPherson will be among a raft of Irish productions showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

Filmmakers have named big-screen classic 'The Godfather' their favourite movie of all time.

Birthday greetings from admirers ranging from politicians to pop stars to members of the public are pouring in for Nelson Mandela who turns 90 today.

Hollywood actor Colin Farrell will star in the latest epic from Oscar winning film maker Danis Tanovic, it was announced today.

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey said today that he no longer cared about his movie career.

Actor/theatre director Kevin Spacey has reportedly suffered an embarrassing snub - Natalie Portman has turned down a chance to perform in his new stage play.

Spanish cinema stars Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem are reuniting for Woody Allen to shoot their first screen pairing since 1992.

Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver (Pathé, €24.99) sees the brilliant Penelope Cruz and Carmen Maura reunite with the acclaimed Spanish director.

Pedro Almodovar's Volver has picked up five honours at the Goya Awards in Madrid, Spain, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress for Penelope Cruz.

Spanish movie-maker Pedro Almodovar was celebrating last night after his Penelope Cruz starring film Volver beat off stiff competition to represent his homeland at next year's Oscars.

Spain’s most celebrated director is famous for his quirky look at life, which makes his films either outstanding or, at best, indifferent.

Screen beauty Penelope Cruz was in town for the premiere of her new film Volver.

He’s one of the hottest directors around, and perhaps Europe’s foremost.

Movie star couple Matthew McConaughey and Spanish beauty Penelope Cruz “have decided to split,” Cruz spokesman Robert Garlock said today.

Cork-born actor Cillian Murphy today promised a hooley in Cork for the Irish premiere of The Wind that Shakes the Barley.

Director Ken Loach and Spanish star Penelope Cruz were among the big winners at the climax of the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue tonight hailed the Irish civil war film which scooped the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival as a masterpiece.