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Welcome to the 9th IFI Stranger Than Fiction film festival – four days of documentaries that promise to entertain, inform and inspire. No matter your taste, you’ll have plenty to choose from with twenty-two docs, short films, special presentations of archive titles and numerous events. The festival’s offerings range from intimate, deeply personal films such as Chico Colvard’s remarkable Family Affair, receiving its European premiere at IFI Stranger Than Fiction, to films which are slightly more epic in scope such as Oliver Stone’s examination of South American politics, South of the Border, or José Padilha’s excellent Secrets of the Tribe.

Biographical filmmaking is present in the form of Jimmy Murakami: Non Alien, an Irish production that looks at the life of the Oscar-nominated animator; Beautiful Darling, James Rasin’s affectionate celebration of the life of Candy Darling; plus Matt Harlock and Paul Thomas’ brilliantly innovative American: The Bill Hicks Story, sure to be one of the hits of the festival.

Those looking for docs with a comedic bent could do far worse than checking out the excellent documentary The Topp Twins, an incredibly funny and touching tribute to New Zealand’s only twin-lesbian-yodelling-comedy-duo, and Winnebago Man, a hysterical look at viral video victim Jack Rebney. Two films guaranteed to have you leaving the cinema with a smile on your face.

A film festival is not a festival unless it offers up the chance to engage with the filmmakers, and a number of guests will be on hand to discuss their work, be it as part of a post-screening Q&A, a panel discussion or an informal chat over a drink in the IFI Café Bar.

And if you’re looking to delve a little deeper into the world of documentary, we’ll have a day of free events and talks on Friday 16th April. Irish filmmaking is well represented with six films screening in the festival including Colin Stafford-Johnson’s quest to find the truth behind the disappearance of a tiger, Broken Tail, and Liz Mermin’s Horses, a unique, hugely imaginative take on the world of horse racing. We’ll also be kicking off the festival with a film made very close to home, director Maya Derrington’s Pyjama Girls, a captivating view of teenage life in Dublin.

We’re thrilled to be able to open the festival with the film’s world premiere. I hope this glimpse into the festival’s programme has encouraged you to explore further – there are so many other treats in store.

Niall Macpherson
IFI Stranger Than Fiction programmer