(L-R): Ambassador John Marshall; Geoff Thompson, BIFS organiser;
Credit: Dorte Storup
On Wednesday evening, the British & Irish Film Season 2018 opened to a full house at Ciné Utopia in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg.
Before the Opening Screening, Britain's Ambassador to Luxembourg, John Marshall, spoke about current political difficulties and acknowledged the place culture plays in uniting communities. Festival Organiser, Geoff Thompson, thanked all the sponsors and partners, as well as the British and Irish embassies, and also acknowledged the role the Edinburgh International Film Festival (Scotland) and the Galway Film Fleadh (Ireland) play in the programming of this festival in Luxembourg.
He paid particular thanks to the various volunteers helping throughout the festival, and mentioned that no less than 10 special guests would be attending this year's festival, including producers, directors and actors, starting with two for Thursday's screenings.
On the programming front, he emphasised the comedies and thrillers this year, as well as two documentary double bills.
The Opening Screening, Swimming with Men, directed by Oliver Parker and starring Rob Brydon, Jim Carter, Rupert Graves, Daniel Mays and Jane Horrocks, was very much appreciated by the audience who were laughing out loud as the the storyline unfolded. It film focused on Rob Brydon's character, a bored accountant whose wife has just got elected to the town council and who joins a group of men who do synchronised swimming in the local pool. Before they know it, they are entered for the World Championships in Italy.....
The screening was followed by a reception hosted by the British Embassy.
Full details of the festival's programme are on www.bifilmseason.lu, with all ticketing on www.luxembourg-ticket.lu.
For all photos from the Opening Screening, see https://www.facebook.com/pg/bifseason/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1102421289911796
