RENOWNED international and Irish peace broker Padraig O'Malley is to attend tonight's screening of The Peacemaker at Belfast Film Festival. Director James Demo will also be present at Movie House, Dublin Road for the presentation of his biographical documentary about a man who has devoted much of his life to making peace for others, including Northern Ireland, despite having troubles of his own.
Over the course of five years, Demo follows O'Malley through crisis zones from Nigeria to Iraq and discovers how, as a recovering alcoholic, O’Malley’s relationships with partners and an adopted daughter have borne the scars of addiction.
The director recalls the positive working relationship between O’Malley, who convened some of Northern Ireland’s key peace conferences, and the late Martin McGuinness.
"Padraig brought Martin and all the chief negotiators to South Africa, including Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson," he says. "They met with Nelson Mandela a year before the Good Friday Agreement. McGuinness calls it 'a groundbreaking moment' in the film.
"Padraig also worked with Martin in Iraq in 2008 and 2009, trying to help the Iraqis come to an agreement."
:: Screening starts at 7pm. Tickets available via Belfastfilmfestival.org, by phone on 028 9024 6609 or in person at Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, 9 Donegall Square North, Belfast.
