Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2013

Running from the 14th to the 24th of February, the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will be presenting over 140 films from the four corners of the globe. Over that last number of years this festival has gained major momentum. The majority of films shown at the Film Festival are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland. Only a short time away and with a few of the shows already sold out its important to book your tickets as soon as you can. Visit Jameson Film Festival Tickets to buy your tickets and for more information on sold out events! The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre Cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield.

For more information go to www.jdiff.com. If you are planning on staying in Dublin for a few nights over this festival, check out the Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin 4. The Hotel has some great offers on over these dates. Call 00353 1 646 1000 or go online to www.grandcanalhotel.ie

Top five events in Dublin for 2013 from now until June!

With the Irish Gathering set to make 2013 a busy year for events all over Ireland, we at the Grand Canal Hotel wanted to give you a heads up on the big events that are happening in Dublin City this year. From the 14th to the 24th of February the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival will be presenting over 140 films from the four corners of the globe to the Irish Audience. Over that last number of years this festival has gained major momentum. This takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre Cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield. The majority of films shown at the Film Festival are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland. For more information go to www.jdiff.com

On the 17th of March, as part of ‘The Gathering Ireland 2013’ for the first time ever, St. Patrick’s Festival is inviting up to 8,000 people around the world to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin. The parade will march through the streets of Dublin, passing historic landmarks along the way including the GPO, Trinity College, Dublin Castle and City Hall. The route is 2.5 km long. For more information go to www.stpatricksfestival.ie

The 2013 Heineken Cup final on the 18th of May takes place AVIVA Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4 not far from the Grand Canal Hotel. The Heineken Cup Final kicks off in the Aviva Stadium at 5pm. Nearby at the RDS the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday, 17 May kicks off at 8pm. With the two finals being played side-by side, it’s hoped that up to 70,000 supporters will converge on the city for this un-missable weekend of European cup rugby. For more information go to www.ercrugby.com

For 30 year the Flora Mini Marathon has seen thousands of participants swarm to Dublin to raise money for charity. 2013 will be no different! On June 3rd the 31st annual Flora Mini Marathon will see 40,000 ladies raise money for around 600 different charities. For more information go to www.florawomensminimarathon.ie

Finally, Dublin Pride Festival takes place on the 21st of June and runs until June 30th in Dublin’s City Centre. This festival is a celebration of three important historical events, the 40th Anniversary of the creation of the Irish Gay Movement, the 30th Anniversary of the Dublin Pride Parade and the 20th Anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. This year’s pride festival is hoped to be the biggest yet.

These are only five of the bigger events that are taking place in Dublin for the first half of the year. All five of these events are set to attract a large number of visitors to the city so be sure to make you hotel booking well in advance. For more information or for accommodation go to www.grandcanalhotel.com or call 01 646 1000!

JAMESON DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival kicks off on the 17th of February with a host of stars and interesting movies visiting Ireland's capital city over the next month.

Established in 2003, The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) has fast become Ireland’s premiere feature film festival and takes place in Ireland’s capital city over the course of eleven days and nights each February.

JDIFF will show 120 films from the four corners of the globe to the Irish Audience. The festival is a citywide event that takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre Cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield. The majority of films shown at the film festival are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland.

As I mentioned earlier there are 120 movies to be shown so while I can't really go through them all I'm going to pick out a few that have seduced my interest.

Highly rated directors Brendan Culleton and Irina Maldea - bring us An Irish Affair, a penetrating and poignant study of the Irish-led 1961 UN peacekeeping mission to Katanga, a province that wanted to break-away from the newly independent Congo and the two Irishmen who were key decision makers in the country during that time, Gen. Seán McKeown, commander of the UN military force and Irish diplomat, Conor Cruise O’Brien, the UN’s civil representative in Katanga.

Some big international films also make their debut in Dublin including The Adjustment Bureau starring Mat Damon and Emily Blunt. The film is both a knowing examination of contemporary American politics and a witty and stylish thriller. While The Way, starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, is a touching film about the testy yet unbreakable bond between father and son, as well as the supportive, familial connections that can form among strangers.

Others films getting their first airing at the festival include the political thriller Fair Game, starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts and Channing Tatum's The Eagle, adapted from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel The Eagle of the Ninth, a breathtaking historical drama, detailing the explosive clash of cultures in the Roman empire.

But the movies that I'm most looking forward to come from two of my favorite directors. Guillermo del Toro has an exceptional eye for new talent and his latest film as producer, Julia’s Eyes, directed by Spanish newcomer Guillem Morales, will terrify audiences, while Ken Loache's Route Irish, the story of the privitisation of the war in Iraq, will no doubt only enhance his excellent reputation for brilliant films.

Finally watch out for new Irish directing talent in Juanita Wilson. Her first feature, Inside I'm Dancing, starring James McEvoy, gave us a glimpse of what she was capable of. Her latest movie, As If I'm Not There, a hard hitting true story from the Bosnian war, based on Croatian journalist slavenka Drakulic’s book of the same name is causing some serious excitement.

Check out www.jdiff.com for details on when the show are taking place.