The UCD Imagine Science Film Festival
The UCD Imagine Science Film Festival is an innovative project developed by University College Dublin in collaboration with the prestigious Imagine Science Films, New York.
The festival, the first ever Science Film Festival to be held in Ireland, is a city-wide exploration of science through the medium of film and will take place in various locations around Dublin from Thursday 5 July to Saturday 14 July.
The UCD Imagine Science Film Festival aims to give the general public an exciting way to access current and thought-provoking scientific issues through a line-up of international and Irish films, shorts, animations, discussions, art, music and a mobile Science Cinema Tour supported by Google.
The festival will open on 5 July with the premier of Fermat’s Room introduced by special guest, Professor Cedric Villani. Professor Villani is the Director of the Institute Henri Poincaré, and is on the faculty at Université de Leon. He is a graduate of the prestigious École Normale Supérieure de Paris and obtained his doctorate under the supervision of Pierre-Louis Lions at Paris-Dauphine University. He was awarded the Fermat and Henri Poincaré prizes in 2009 followed by the Fields Medal in 2010.
On 13 July there will be an opportunity for attendees to have a rare and intimate audience with Nobel Laureate Professor James Watson, the esteemed American molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist, best known as the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick. At this unique event the award-winning The Race for the Double Helix, featuring Jeff Goldblum, will be screened and Professor Watson will discuss his life and discoveries in a post-screening conversation.
The Festival closes on 14 July with the European Premiere of Planet Ocean following on from its World Premiere at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Planet Ocean, which captures breath-taking footage of the planet’s natural wonders, was filmed during the voyages of the Tara Expedition. Dr Emmanuel Reynaud, UCD Earth Institute and UCD School of Biology & Environmental Science is part of the Tara Expedition research programme.
The Festival has been developed by UCD Research with the Imagine Science Film Festival, New York in association with Science Foundation Ireland, The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Ambassade De France.
The film festival is taking place as part of the Dublin City of Science Festival 2012. This is a year-long celebration that will bring together a community of cultural institutions, organisations and individuals who are passionate about showcasing the best of Irish culture, arts and science.
ENDS
3 July 2012
For further information contact Micéal Whelan, University College Dublin, Communications Manager (Innovation), e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, t: + 353 1 716 3712
