BELFAST will host a pop-up film festival as part of celebrations to mark Sir Kenneth Branagh being made a freeman of the city on Tuesday January 30. The ‘Branagh in Belfast’ programme of events will be delivered in partnership with Film Hub NI (see filmhubni.org) and will be staged in venues across the city.
Fans will also have the opportunity of being in the audience at a special ceremony in the Ulster Hall that evening, when the Belfast-born actor will officially receive the honour. Applications can be made online via the council website belfastcity.gov.uk/branaghinbelfast – free tickets will be allocated to Belfast residents via computerised draw. The deadline to apply for tickets is 5pm on Friday January 19.
Festival highlights include screenings of Cinderella at Belfast Castle – where the audience is being encouraged to dress up as their favourite princess – and Dunkirk, which is being shown onboard the HMS Caroline.
Into Film and Cinemagic are also coordinating screenings in schools across the city so children and young people can enjoy some of Branagh’s work.
The actor and director has described being made a freeman of his home city as an “incredible honour".
“Belfast has always given me more than I could ever repay. It took great care of me until the age of nine. It gave me a profound sense of family, a magnificent landscape to play in, and a Belfast sense of humour that is a constant boisterous reminder to never take yourself too seriously," he said.
“I’m proud to say that you can take the boy out of Belfast, but you can't take Belfast out of the boy.”
:: More details at belfastcity.gov.uk/branaghinbelfast; follow the hashtag on Twitter to stay up to date #branaghinbelfast
