Entertainment

Pull Focus event celebrates documentaries

Pull Focus will feature Sean Murray’s Unquiet Graves, which focuses on the notorious Glenanne Gang
Pull Focus will feature Sean Murray’s Unquiet Graves, which focuses on the notorious Glenanne Gang Pull Focus will feature Sean Murray’s Unquiet Graves, which focuses on the notorious Glenanne Gang

THE Belfast Film Festival presents its new 'mini festival' next month celebrating contemporary documentaries with a focus on Irish film-makers.

Pull Focus kicks off on Thursday August 9 with The Image You Missed, Donal Foreman’s meditation on the work and legacy of his documentarian father Arthur McCaig, who made films about the Troubles including Irish Ways and The Patriot Game.

On August 16, Pull Focus will present the world premiere of Sean Murray’s Unquiet Graves, his examination of collusion during the Troubles focused on the notorious Glenanne Gang.

And, as part of World Cinema Day on August 21, acclaimed Belfast-bred film-maker Mark Cousins will present his latest 'documentary hybrid' The Eyes Of Orson Welles, a love letter to one of the greatest directors of all time.

The film-makers will be in attendance at the Pull Focus screenings, with other guests presenting work at the event including Ed Maloney (producer, I, Dolours), Feargal Ward (director, The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid) and Dónal Ó Célleachair (director, Camino Voyage).

There will also be a focus on the tradition of documentary in Northern Ireland, with the programme including work by David Hammond, Anne Crilly, Margo Harkin and John T Davis.

Festival programmer Stuart Sloan said the selection of documentaries "explores issues very important to our society, personal and public.

"We hope that our programming continues to contribute in serious and fun ways, to the broader critical discourse on equality."

:: See Belfastfilmfestival.org for full programme and ticket details.