Star-studded turnout for premiere of Studs

BRENDAN Gleeson headed a star line-up at last night’s world premiere of Studs, the Paul Mercier feelgood action comedy.

The glitterati converged on the Savoy cinema for the opening film of the 4th Jameson Dublin International Film Festival which run until February 24.

Guests also included producers Abbey Theatre director Fiach Mac Conghail and his brother Cuan Mac Conghail, who is also editor.

Other guests on the night included Laurence Kinlan, Gerry Stembridge, Allen Leech, Ruth Bradley and Charlotte Bradley.

Over 100 films will be shown at this year’s festival. Among the guests who will be attending screenings of their new films at the festival are Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, John Hurt, Julie Walters and Patrick Bergin.

Studs, written by Mercier for the stage and first performed 20 years ago, centres on an amateur soccer team’s cup ambitions.

Beaten 8-0 in yet another humiliating Sunday morning defeat, they are - according to the wife of one player - “the laughing stock of the community.” Enter a stranger, Walter Keegan (played by Gleeson), who offers himself as their new manager. Without previous experience in the role, Keegan’s unorthodox approach whips them all into shape, mentally and physically - with a lot of laughs on the way.

Other films being shows include the Dardenne brothers’ Palme d’Or winner L’Enfant, the heavily Oscar-tipped Capote and Richard Shepard’s The Matador.