Curtain falls on the Dublin Film Festival

THE Jameson Dublin International Film Festival sparkled all the way to its end last night with the first screening of The Ballad of Jack and Rose, in the Savoy Cinema.

All 782 seats at the cinema were sold out for the premiere, which was attended by its main star, Daniel Day Lewis.

Also taking their seats for the screening were film directors, Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan, comedian, Ardal O’Hanlon, musician Neil Hannon and model Andrea Roche.

The film, directed by Rebecca Miller, tells the story of a man’s struggle to live in an environmentally correct life and separate himself and his family from the dictates of ‘civilisation’.

About 130 films, including short and feature productions, were shown since the festival opened on Friday February 17.

There were over 30,000 attendances during the festival’s 10-day run, with a record number of special guests attending the film shows.

Appearances were made by actors John Hurt, Julie Walters and Ralph Fiennes, plus a lot of film-makers that would not be household names.

A total of 47 actors, producers, directors and writers attended the festival to support screenings of their films. A number gave public interviews and took part in question and answer sessions with film audiences.

Festival publicist, Nick Costello, said he thought the festival was a success.

“Of course I am bound to say that as the publicist, but it has been a genuine success. It has been very well attended and there has been a great buzz about it.”

It was also the fourth festival in its present reincarnation with Jameson as it sponsors.