Stephin Merritt film premieres at Stranger Than Fiction festival.

There are musical highlights aplenty in this year’s Stranger Than Fiction Documentary Film Festival, which runs in the IFI from April 15 to 18.
These include the European premiere of Strange Powers, the Stephin Merritt and Magnetic Fields doc, which examines his working relationship with longtime manager and collaborator Claudia Gonson. The behind-the-scenes footage is intercut with compelling live performances.
Another must-see is Downtown Calling, a study of the ‘70s New York scene narrated by Debbie Harry and featuring the reminiscences of everyone from Arthur Baker and Fab 5 Freddy to Mos Def and former mayor Ed Koch.
Keeping the home fires burning is Tradfest: The Memory Of A People, which contains a veritable treasure trove of performances by Irish greats like Christy Moore, Willy Clancy, Planxty and The Dubliners.
For more information see www.ifi.ie.