Cyndi Lauper film to open Docs Ireland

First wave of films announced

by Jennie Kermode

Cyndi Lauper in Let The Canary Sing
Cyndi Lauper in Let The Canary Sing Photo: courtesy of Docs Ireland

This year's Docs Ireland film festival is to open with Let The Canary Sing, a documentary which profiles musician and activist Cyndi Lauper, it was announced today. Running in the Black Box in Belfast, the festival will showcase Irish talent, exploring music, art, nature, and identity to investigative journalism which provide insights into the island’s complicated past and present.

Also included in this year's line-up are the world première of I Dream In Photos, about the life and work of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Cahal McNaughton; Atomic Hope, which asks if nuclear fuel could be a means of solving the global climate crisis; and Stolen, which probes the horrific discovery of the bodies of 796 mothers and babies in Tuam.

"Five short years ago we launched the first Docs Ireland in response to the creativity and passion we saw in a vibrant Irish documentary-making sector. We wanted to celebrate this energy, to give it a platform here at home and support in the international arena," said festival director Michele Devlin.

"In a programme that spans 25 countries across the world, this year we have a welcome explosion of talent, as we premiere a record number of Irish-made feature documentaries."

The festival runs from 20 to 25 June. The full line-up will be revealed on 25 May.

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