The Belfast Film Festival is back for its 24th edition, and it’s looking better than ever. Returning on October 31st, the festival will run for 10 days with screenings and events taking place all across the city.

With such a vast programme to choose from, it can be hard to know just where to start. With that in mind we’ve picked out five feature films that we think are well worth putting on your watchlist.

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Fréwaka
(dir. Aislinn Clarke)

When: Thursday 31st October @ 7:00pm
Where: Cineworld

After giving audiences a sneak peek during a fascinating work-in-progress screening last year, Aislinn Clarke’s new Irish-language horror film, Fréwaka is now complete – and it’s opening this year’s festival. Receiving its Irish premiere on Halloween night it feels fitting, then, that Clarke has remained close to her horror roots after debut, The Devil’s Doorway (2018). Leading an impressive collection of new Irish cinema, Fréwaka sounds like a frightfully good way to kick-off a festival full of local talent.

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Bring Them Down
(dir. Chris Andrews)

When: Friday 1st November @ 6:00pm
Where: Queen’s Film Theatre

Starring both Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin, Saltburn) and Christopher Abbott (Possessor, Poor Things), Bring Them Down entices with its impressive casting alone. The film – which is Chris Andrews’ directorial debut – is set in Galway and sees tensions between two neighbouring sheep-farmers escalate into violence. Promising to pack quite a punch, this is another of several exciting Irish premieres at this year’s festival. If that wasn’t enough, following the screening there will be a Q&A with Andrews and the film’s composer, Hannah Peel.

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Nightbitch
(dir. Marielle Heller)

When: Thurday 7th November @ 8:30pm
Where: Queen’s Film Theatre

The year’s festival has a wealth of new cinema in its programme, but it’s Marielle Heller’s Nightbitch that really has our tails wagging. Adapted from Rachel Yoder’s best-selling novel of the same name, it stars Amy Adams (need we say more!?) as an artist turned stay-at-home mum, who also sometimes transforms into a dog – seriously, is there anything Adams can’t do? Simply put, with a concept as barking mad as this, it’s easily one of the festival’s must-sees.

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Flow
(dir. Gints Zilbalodis)

When: Saturday 9th November @ 10:45am
Where: Queen’s Film Theatre

It’s not just dog-lovers Belfast Film Festival is catering to though, as Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow offers something for cat-fans too. In this animated film suitable for all the family, a little black cat must try to make it back to dry land after a flood devastates his home. This wordless animation has already had a great festival run, picking up numerous awards along the way and has even been selected as the Latvian entry for the upcoming Oscar awards. We’ve a good feline about this one.

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Housewife of the Year
(dir. Ciaran Cassidy)

When: Saturday 9th November @ 6:30pm
Where: Queen’s Film Theatre

No Belfast Film Festival lineup would be complete without a strong showcase of documentary filmmaking, and this year it’s Ciaran Cassidy’s Housewife of the Year which has sparked our interest most. Chronicling a uniquely Irish beauty pageant, Cassidy’s film looks to explore the gender politics and attitudes surrounding women’s role in society at the time. Having already screened in Galway earlier this year, it’s Belfast’s turn to celebrate these wonderful Irish Mammies, and we can’t wait.

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Explore the full Belfast Film Festival 2024 programme here

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