Sligo Film Society returns on Thursday, 21 September at The Model with a fresh slate of films taking in both heart-warming and heart-rending family dramas, coming of age stories, and complex tales – journeying from an east London housing estate to the rolling prairies of Pine Ridge Reservation. Pack your bags (metaphorical of course) and come with us!
Our Autumn season will be announced in two parts, presenting a total of 13 films and will run until December. Overall, eight of the films to be screened are helmed by female directors, while five mark the feature directorial debut of their filmmakers.
In part one of our programme announcement, we unveil the first seven films that will screen at The Model this Autumn from late September to early November. Comprising award winning films including Afire which took the Silver Bear at the 2023 Berlinale and three from Cannes 2022, War Pony (Camera d’Or), The Blue Caftan (FIPRESCI Prize) and Close ( Grand Prix). Themes from childhood and of identity feature throughout. Veterans of the screen Penelope Cruz and Isabelle Huppert can be seen in the 1970’s set L’Immensita and La Syndicaliste respectively while hot talent Harris Dickenson features in opener Scrapper, the tender comedy drama from Charlotte Regan making her feature debut.
Check out the listings for the first seven screenings below.
Sligo Film Society, Sep – Nov 2023
Thurs. 21 Sep: Scrapper
84 mins | United Kingdom | 2023 | 12A
Director: Charlotte Regan
Cast: Harris Dickinson, Lola Campbell, Alin Uzun
12-year-old Georgie is determined to fend for herself following the death of her mother. She lies to teachers and social workers in a bid to keep under the radar. Her estranged dad Jason suddenly arrives to look after her, upsetting this balance. Their relationship; initially hostile, soon becomes a reluctant reunion, proving to be exactly what they have both needed.
Thurs. 28 Sep: L’immensita
99 mins | Italy, France | 2022 | TBC (IFCO), 12 (BBFC)
Director: Emanuele Crialese
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Vincenzo Amato, Luana Giuliani
In 1970s Rome, Adriana (Luana Giuliani) is a teenage girl who identifies as a boy named Andrea. His family is in turmoil, as his strict entitled father pushes his loving and protective mother Clara (Penélope Cruz) into depression. In mixing genres and staging musical numbers, L’immensita becomes a freewheeling, effortless meditation on growing up, fitting in and breaking the mould.
Thurs. 05 Oct: Afire
103 mins | Germany | 2023
Director: Christian Petzold
Cast: Thomas Schubert, Langston Uibel, Paula Beer
While vacationing by the Baltic Sea, writer Leon (Thomas Schubert) and photographer Felix (Langston Uibel) are surprised by the presence of Nadja (Paula Beer), a mysterious young woman staying as a guest at Felix’s family’s holiday home. Nadja distracts Leon from finishing his latest novel and with brutal honesty, forces him to confront his caustic temperament and self-absorption. As Nadja and Leon grow closer, an encroaching forest fire threatens the group and tensions escalate when a handsome lifeguard and Leon’s tight-lipped book editor also arrive. Christian Petzold’s acclaimed latest was the winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
Thurs 12 Oct: War Pony
114 mins | USA | 2022 | 15A
Director: Gina Gammell, Riley Keough
Cast: Iona Red Bear, LaDainian Crazy Thunder, Jojo Bapteise Whiting
Intertwining the stories of two Lakota boys on the Pine Ridge Reservation, War Pony is a tender portrait of the difficulties faced by twenty-three-year-old Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting), who hustles for a better life through odd jobs and get-rich-quick schemes, and twelve-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder), who, in his over eagerness to gain his father’s approval, desperately loses his way.
Thurs. 19 Oct: La Syndicaliste
122 mins | France, Germany | 2022 | 15A
Director: Jean-Paul Salomé
Cast: Isabelle Huppert, Grégory Gadebois, François-Xavier Demaison, Marina Foïs
La Syndicaliste tells the extraordinary real-life story of Irish woman Maureen Kearney, a senior trade union representative-turned-whistleblower in a French power company. Maureen’s efforts to expose top-secret deals met with fierce resistance from powerful people. Her life was turned upside down when she was violently assaulted – made worse by police subsequently accusing her of faking the attack.
Thurs. 26 Oct:The Blue Caftan
122 mins | France, Morocco, Belgium | 2022 | CLUB
Director: Maryam Touzani
Cast: Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri, Ayoub Missioui
Halim (Saleh Bakri) has been married for a long time to Mina (Lubna Azabal), with whom he runs a traditional caftan store in the médina of Salé, in Morocco. As Mina’s health begins to fade, they employ a young man as an apprentice. The new arrival unknowingly upsets a carefully balanced marriage designed to hide a secret.
Thurs. 2 Nov: Close
104 mins | Belgium, Netherlands, France | 2022 | 15A
Director: Lukas Dhont
Cast: Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Emilie Dequenne
Thirteen-year-old Rémi and Léo are best friends, spending as much of their summer as possible with each other. But when the two boys start high school, their genuine and intense closeness is suddenly questioned and ridiculed by their peers. Léo starts to distance himself from his friend, leading to tragedy. The second film from Lukas Dhont (Girl) is unforgettably heart-breaking.
