Words: Mark Linehan

February is usually the month where Cupid seems to have monopolised the hearts and minds of love crazed humans. However, has the nappy wearing underage archer ever come up with a decent film festival? No, he has not. Lovers of film will be glad to know that JDIFF is still going strong and with over 120 films from Ballymun to Bosnia, Istanbul to Iraq, from the touching tale of the choirs of Kinshasa to the hidden truths of Hurricane Katrina, there is much more to February. There is no excuse. If you want to be transported in time, strapped in by suspense, hiding in horror, informed, educated, or just tickled then grab your eyes and get along to at least one of the many brilliant flicks on offer.

Submarine
This is the first outing as feature film director for Richard Ayoade. Better know to fans of Graham Linehan's hugely successful cult comedy effort the IT Crowd, as the insufferable Moss (his character carries a water sprayer in case he gets a hot ear). This time he is behind the camera and will use experience gathered from directing Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo, Garth Marengi's Darkplace, a few TV movies and shorts. Submarine is a black coming-of-age comedy about a 15-year-old boy trying to lose his virginity before his next birthday and to stop his mother from leaving his father for her dance teacher (Oh and don't forget - the girl he falls for is a pyromaniac). With a brilliant cast headed by Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky, Dagenham Girls) and Paddy Considine (Dead Man's Shoes, In America) and a soundtrack composed by Alex Turner of The Arctic Monkeys this is set to be the sleeper hit of 2011. A certain Ben Stiller is on board as Executive Producer and with that backing how long until Moss finally calls time on "ctrl alt del" before he hightails it to Hollywood.
Be one of the first to see it on Thursday 17th 19:30 in the SAVOY.

Route Irish
From the director of The Wind That Shakes The Barley, this is a Ken Loach movie based in Liverpool and Iraq and focuses on the effects of the conflict on private security contractors. The former soldiers have difficulty adapting to home life and while repressing their anger they try to uncover the truth behind the death of a colleague. The title of the movie derives from nickname of the 'Baghdad Airport Road' and presumably riddled with craters it was inspired by our own potholes. It was previously short-listed for the Palm d'Or at Cannes and Loach is sure to pull no punches. Featuring Mark Womack (Rebound, Swan Dive) and also featuring the dramatic film debut of like-able Scouse comedian John Bishop as Frankie, Route Irish will be screening Friday 18th at 18:30 in the IFI.

The Big Uneasy
Is it possible to have a documentary featuring legendary TV and film characters like Dan Connor, Sully, Walter Sobchak, Derek Smalls, Montgomery Burns, Kent Brockman (the list is endless) and still hit home your point? The answer is YEEEEES! (attempts Mr. Burns impression). Harry Shearer, voice legend of The Simpson's and cucumber concealing bassist with Spinal Tap is joined by legendary actor John Goodman to uncover some home truths about Hurricane Katrina. Both are residents of the "Big Easy" and seeing the destruction of their adopted home drove them to make this film. Shearer and Goodman speak to Army Corps. Engineers, Investigators and local residents to piece together what could have prevented the disaster and the documentary serves as a stark reminder that the same agency that failed to protect New Orleans still exists in other cities across America. The Big Uneasy screens on February 22 18:30 at the IFI.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Anything from the mind of Wernor Herzog is a must, and especially if it is in glorious 3D. This is a fascinating documentary about the cave art discovered at Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc in France in 1994. Herzog was given unprecedented access to the caves and his decision to film entirely in this form gives the film an incredible sense of depth. The idea to make this movie came from Herzog's early years when he had to save up for six months to purchase a book with pictures of a horse at the Lascaux cave, exclaiming that, "the shudder of awe and wonder has never left me." The latest project from the uniquely talented German uber-auteur, once described by Francois Truffaut, as "the most important film director alive" will be guaranteed to amaze.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams screens on Feb 18 in Cineworld at 18:30.

Julia's Eyes (Les Ojos de Julia)
If your idea of a good night out is to have the bejaysus scared out of you, or it's a first date (a slight cough and a reassuring arm over the shoulder) or you trust the talent spotting abilities of the brilliant Mexican director, Guillermo Del Toro, then this is for you. Guillermo's eyes have picked up on newcomer Guillem Morales terrifying story about a young girl called Julia. She suffers from a rare degenerative condition that is slowly making her blind. Her twin sister struggled with the same disease until it drove her to suicide. However, Julia doesn't believe it's just her condition. Are outside forces are at play? As the tension rises and the isolation of her character intensifies, Morales takes the viewer on a brilliant nerve-shredding journey of suspense. Not for the faint-hearted.