Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival, Ireland’s premier film event, announces legendary actor Ralph Fiennes as the recipient of a Volta award at this year’s festival, which opened on Wednesday and runs until March 3^rd.

 

The Volta Award is the festival’s most prestigious award and is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the world of film. Ralph Fiennes will be presented with the Volta by Irish actor John Kavanagh who Fiennes directed in The Invisible Woman after a screening of The White Crow at Cineworld (Mar 1^st, 8.40pm) . The film tells the story of ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev's defection to the West and which Fiennes both directed and stars in. Alongside Carlos Acosta’s Yuli (Feb 24th, Cineworld) it is one of two ballet themed films at this year’s festival. Fiennes will be joined by writer of The White Crow, the BAFTA winning Sir David Hare for a Q&A with arts journalist Helen Meany. Sir David Hare was awarded the Volta Award in 2016, he is best known for his acclaimed screenplays of The Hours and The Reader.

 

Actor, producer and director Fiennes first achieved success at the Royal National Theatre. He is known for roles in Schindler’s List and The English Patient, both of which he was nominated for an Academy Award. Previous recipients of a Volta include Al Pacino, Julie Andrews, Kenneth Branagh, Angela Lansbury and Danny DeVito.

 

Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival also announces today that sailors Jo Gooding and Angela Heath will attend the premiere of Maiden (Feb 25^th, Light House). This critically acclaimed sailing documentary centres on the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. At its core is a fascinating subject, Tracy Edwards, a young cook on charter boats who gets to skipper the team as they attempt to break new ground and make history. At great personal sacrifice, Edwards and her team set out to defy convention and sexism and smash a glass ceiling. Jo and Angela, who sails out of Dun Laoghaire, were members of the inspirational 1989 crew.

 

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For further press information please contact Conway Communications:

Nigel Goggin (Nigel@conwaycommunications.ie / 087 604 1161)

Ellen King (Ellen@conwaycommunications.ie / 087 201 3724)

 

For Virgin Media enquiries please contact:

Anna-Maria Barry (AnnaMaria.Barry@virginmedia.ie / 086 227 2072)

About the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival

The Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival was founded in 2003 and sets the agenda of the year with its programme of outstanding Irish and international film talent. Featuring a red carpet line-up of on-screen talent and guest filmmakers, the festival offers unique access to a plethora of filmmaking talent and transforms Dublin into a hub of glamour, creativity and film appreciation. The festival enjoys an international reputation and is considered a vital launch-pad for Irish titles and an important showcase of world cinema for discerning audiences.

 

Over the past 16 years, Dublin International Film Festival has screened world cinema from 52 different countries, a total of almost 1,500 films, of which 300 were Irish features including Irish premieres of Sing Street, Once, Ondine, In Bruges, Calvary, The Stag and The Secret of Kells. The Festival has hosted over 600 major guests, including Al Pacino, Angela Lansbury, Brendan Gleeson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Danny DeVito, Ennio Morricone, Joss Whedon, Julie Andrews, Kristin Scott Thomas, Stanley Tucci, and Stellan Skarsgård.

 

This year the Dublin International Film Festival is sponsored by Virgin Media, with principal funding from The Arts Council. Key partners and funders include Screen Ireland, Dublin City Council, hotel partner The Merrion Hotel, print transport partner Wells Cargo, post-production partner Windmill Lane, social listening partner Olyrico and media partners Orb Screen, Wide Eye Media, the Sunday Independent, 98FM and Entertainment.ie.

 

About Virgin Media

Virgin Media is one of the country’s leading connected entertainment providers and operates a cable and broadcast business in Ireland.

Our cable business delivers multi award-winning services: broadband, TV, mobile and home phone connect thousands of people across the country. We are extending our cable footprint with our ‘Project Lightning’ so that more communities can enjoy the benefits of the fastest, widely available broadband speeds from Virgin Media.

 

Our broadcast division, Virgin Media Television is Ireland’s number one commercial broadcaster operating three free-to-air channels (Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Two, Virgin Media Three, plus the Virgin Media Player) and is a significant investor in home produced content across news, current affairs and drama. We offer extensive sports coverage on our Virgin Media Sport and our 6 Extra Sport channels to ensure fans see all games across UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League fixtures and more.

 

Through Virgin Media Business, we support entrepreneurs, businesses and the public sector, delivering the fastest speeds and tailor-made services.

 

Virgin Media is part of Liberty Global, the world’s largest international TV and broadband company. Liberty Global connects 21 million customers through operations in 10 countries across Europe subscribing to 45 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. It also serves 6 million mobile subscribers and offers WiFi service through 12 million access points across its footprint.

For further information please visit: www.virginmedia.ie