Audi Dublin Film Festival 2016: Ones to Watch

Organisers of the event have selected some of the finest international films to premiere at this year's festival and there is an abundance to choose from.
Over the 11 days, there will be a selection of over 80 films from 27 countries. The 2016 programme promises an array of the finest independent films on the market, allowing them this pedestal on which to flourish and be acknowledged. Richard Molloy, Head of Audi Marketing, expressed his pride of the film festival by saying,"The depth, variety and diverse nature of the 2016 programme demonstrate why this festival is one of the most important cultural events in Ireland. The programme encourages visitors to experience the best in filmmaking. Both Audi and the Dublin International Film Festival share a drive for creativity and innovation, as well as an enduring passion for the art and craft of filmmaking".
Of course, DIFF will also showcase the work of Ireland's upcoming talents like actor Barry Keoghan and director Declan Recks. DIFF opens with John Carney's highly anticipated Sing Street and will close it's curtains with Paddy Breathnach's Viva. With so many films to choose from in between, we have complied a small list offering a selection of this year's film candidates just to allow a glimpse of what to expect. The choice however, is all yours! The Audi Dublin Film Festival takes place this February from the 18th to the 28th.

1. Anomalisa

Motivational speaker Michael Stone is trapped in the confines of his banal life until he meets Lisa, a baked goods sales rep. His relationship with Lisa reinvigorates Michael's life and changes his outlook forever more.
Director: Charlie Kaufman, Duke Johnson
Starring: David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
Country: USA
Premiere: Tue 23rd Feb @ 9.00pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

2. Black

A modern day take on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet war erupts when 15 year old Mavela from the Brussels' Black Bronx gang, falls for Marwan, a member of a rival Moroccan gang. Their doomed relationship sparks a feud that will have tragic consequences for both parties.
Director: Adil E Arbi, Bilall Fallah
Starring: Martha Canga Antonio, Aboubakr Bensaihi
Country:Belgium
Premiere: Fri 19th Feb @ 4:00pm
Thu 25th Feb @ 2:00pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

3. Demolition

After losing his wife in a car accident, successful banker Davis succumbs to a feeling of numbness and begins to lose his grip on reality. What starts out as a complaint to a Vending Machine Company soon unravels to an outlet whereby he can express his emotions and find solace to rebuild a life he once had.
Director: Jean­Marc Vallée
Starring:Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper
Country: USA
Premiere: Tue 23rd Feb @ 8:30pm
Venue: Cineworld

4. Departure

Set in France's countryside, young Elliot is the single child of a broken marriage. Whilst his parent's relationship is in turmoil, he finds comfort when he meets a local French boy, Clement. As their friendship develops Elliot begins feelings towards Clement evolve in ways that seem so familiar yet strange.
Director: Andrew Steggall
Starring: Alex Lawther, Juliet Stevenson, Phénix Brossard
Country: France, UK
Premiere: Thu 25th Feb @ 6:00pm
Venue: Cineworld

5. Desierto

From the writers of Gravity comes a survivalist thriller following a group of undocumented Mexican's trying to make their way into America. As they cross deserted plains they are hunted down by a psychotic American sniper and his dog.
Director: Jonás Cuaron
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Geoffrey Dean Morgan
Country: Mexico-France
Premiere: Fri 26th Feb @ 6:15pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

6. Disorder

Following a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Victor lands a job as a security guard to the wife of a wealthy Lebanese businessman. His PTSD begins to impinge on his sense of reality and as he feels threatened by great danger could this just be all in his head?
Director: Alice Winocour
Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Diane Kruger, Paul Hamy
Country: France
Premiere: Mon 22nd Feb @ 8:30pm
Venue: Cineworld

7. Green Room

Green Room is a chilling spectacle of horror. After playing a gig the band, Ain't Rights, accidentally witness the murder of a young teenage girl. The band are then trapped by the savage murderers and are at the mercy of the vicious head honcho, Darcy.
Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Anton Yelchin
Country: USA
Premiere: Wed 24th Feb @ 6.15pm
Venue: Cineworld

8. Hail, Caesar!

The latest from the genius Coen brothers, Hail, Caesar! throws it back to Hollywood's Golden Age. The all-star comedy follows a studio producer who's faced with the slight problem of Hollywood's biggest star being kidnapped for ransom.
Director: Ethan and Joel Coen
Starring:Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, George Clooney, Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes
Country: USA
Premiere: Sat 20th Feb @ 11:30am
Venue: Savoy

9. Louder Than Bombs

After the untimely death of celebrated war photographer and mother, her remaining family members are left in despair. Unable to connect with one another and with three years past, they have grown so desperately apart and must try and come together to unite what once was a family.
Director: Joachim Trier
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Ryan, Rachel Brosnahan
Country: Norway - France - Denmark
Premiere: Sat 20th Feb @ 8:30pm
Venue: Cineworld

10. Mammal

After the discovery of her son's dead body, distraught mother Margaret begins to frequent the local swimming pool where she meets homeless youth Joe. She invites Joe to come and stay with her leading to a disconcerting relationship between the pair. Their reliance on one another becomes an issue for Margaret's ex-husband and the violent group Joe is affiliated with.
Director: Rebecca Daly
Starring: Rachel Griffiths, Michael McElhatton, Barry Keoghan
Country: Ireland
Premiere: Wed 24th Feb @ 8:30pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

11. Nasty Baby

When gay couple Freddy and Mo, need a carrier for their baby they need look no further than Freddy's best friend Polly. Polly, who is more than obliging to be surrogate, begins the process with the couple. However, despite their progressive mentality this is not shared by other member's of the community who let the trio know their feelings on the matter and threaten Freddy and Mo's possibility of parenthood.
Director: Sebastian Silva
Starring: Sebastián Silva, Tunde Adebimpe, Kristen Wiig
Country: USA
Premiere: Sat 20th Feb @ 4.30pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

12. Sing Street

During Ireland's 1980's recession, a middle class Dublin family are forced to downsize and reevaluate their comfortable lifestyle. Young Conor is thereby entered into an inner-city public school where he set's his sights on the beautiful Raphina. With the hopes of winning her heart, Conor set's out to make a band with his mates and what follows is a nostalgic throwback to the classic's of the 80's with the likes of Duran Duran, The Cure and The Police.
Director: John Carney
Starring: Ferdia Walsh Peelo, Jack Reynor, Aidan Gillen, Maria Doyle Kennedy
Country: Ireland
Premiere: Thu 18th Feb @ 7:00pm
Venue: Savoy

13. Son of Saul

A harrowing portrayal of life as a Sonderkommando, Saul is a Jew who is forced to assist in the disposal of gas chamber victims during the Holocaust. One day Saul finds a child who is on the brink of death and dies in Saul's arms as he is about to be disposed of. Despite the horrifying conditions of life and cruelty he is victim to, Saul makes it his mission to give this child a proper burial but must find a Rabbi to do so, putting his life and the life of his fellow camp mates in jeopardy.
Director: László Nemes
Starring: Géza Röhrig, Urs Rechn, Attila Fritz
Country: Hungary
Premiere: Sun 28th Feb @ 2:00pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

14. The Truth Commissioner

Set in post-Troubles Northern Ireland, Henry Stanfield has just been appointed at the Truth Commissioner. He encounters three men who he believes to have been involeved, either directly or indirectly, to the disappearance of a man 20 years earlier. Although Stanfield's investigation starts strong, he soon uncovers some ugly truths and riles up the wrong people. Even though everyone appears to want to know the Truth, there are those who are willing to kill to keep it a secret.
Director: Declan Recks
Starring: Roger Allam, Sean McGinley, Barry Ward, Conleth Hill
Country: Ireland
Premiere: Sun 21st Feb @ 6:15pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

15. Time Out of Mind

On the margins of society and another lost soul to the system, George is just another homeless man trying to survive daily in New York City. Losing dignity and faith in himself, his friendship with a down and out ex-Jazzman, restores something within George and encourages him to try and reconcile with his estranged daughter.
Director: Oren Moverman
Starring: Richard Gere, Ben Vereen, Jena Malone
Country: USA
Premiere: Fri 26th Feb @ 7:30pm
Venue: Savoy

16. Staid

​Four small-town people, bound together by new and old relationships and are stuck in a rut with their small-town mentality. They come together to tangle, fight, sing, talk, smoke, drink, argue, laugh, leave and return — and stumble towards the reality that their lives are finally changing, whether they like it or not. A film debut for best selling author and playwright Paul O'Brien.
Director: Paul O’Brien
Country: Ireland
Premiere: Light House Cinema
Venue: Sat 27th Feb @ 4:00pm

17. Victoria

Perhaps what makes Victoria so enthralling is that it's taken in one single, uninterrupted shot. A whole 2 hours and 18 minutes with no cuts following the escalation of a bank robbery gone horribly wrong.
Director: Sebastian Schnipper
Starring: Laia Costa, Frederick Lau
Country: Germany
Premiere: Sat 27th Feb @ 6:00pm
Venue: Light House Cinema

18. Viva

In the back-streets of Havana, Dublin director Paddy Breathnach offers a tender tale of 18 year old Jesus whose dream it is to become a drag queen. In aspiration of this, he turns to the club owner Mama who lives up to his name and helps Jesus fulfill his ambition. Jesus soon becomes a crowd pleaser and flourishes in his new-found identity. That is until, his father is released from prison after 15 years and banishes Jesus from ever performing again.
Director: Paddy Breathnach
Starring: Hector Medina, Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García
Country: Ireland - Cuba
Premiere: Sun 28th Feb @ 7:5pm
Venue: Savoy

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Tickets for all of the above can be purchased at www.diff.ie