I‘m a big fan of the IFI’s Stranger than Fiction Documentary Festival each year. This year’s festival begind this evening with a screening of Pyjama Girls, followed by a Q&A with director Maya Derrington and producer Nicky Gogan.
Across the four days there are 22 twenty-two documentaries, short films, special presentations of archive titles and numerous events, not to mention a number of gems. Oliver Stone’s epic South of the Borderlooks at South American politics. Sins of my Father is an extraordinary examination of the life of Pablo Escobar as seen through the eyes of his only son, Sebastian Marroquin. The genius of Bill Hicks is explored in American: The Bill Hicks Story. There will again be a Q&A with the film’s directors tomorrow.
One of the most exciting moments of the festival will surely be the Q&A session after the screening of Gilbert O’Sullivan – Out On His Own on Friday at 5pm. The film is a fascinating and witty portrait of an outspoken music man who refuses to retire, absolutely certain of his own value, ready to take on all detractors and critics, single-minded, selfaware and oddly engaging. And as if that’s not enough, there will be a Q&A session with the film’s director, Adrian McCarthy and the one and only Gilbert O’Sullivan.
The 62-year-old Waterford-born O’Sullivan is still touring and recording, still songwriting as a proper Monday-to-Friday nine-to-five job, driven to achieve again the chart success he once had. Here he is at the height of his fame in the 1970s:
For more information on the Festival or to book tickets go to the Irish Film Institute’s website. Click here for the full festival listing.
