What with nights closing in, getting cosy at the cinema seems very alluring. To help us all along there is a rash of film premieres at the moment that combine a bit of glamour and a good night out, all, of course, for a good cause. This week's celluloid celebration was the gala premiere of the new Disney film, Hercules, which opened on Thursday in the Savoy, Dublin. Lifelong Disney fan Steve Gately from Boyzone made a surprise appearance, flying back from Paris to sing his title song, Shooting Star, over the end credits. Gospel singer Jocelyn Brown, who also sings on the soundtrack, performed a couple of her hits at the post-show party at Dublin Castle.
Renowned cartoonist Gerald Scarfe was also there, along with his wife, Jane Asher. Coming up next week is the first screening of Wilde, the new Oscar Wilde film, which will be held at the Savoy next Thursday. The party afterwards will take place in the Riverclub. Lead actor Stephen Fry will be coming along, as will director Brian Gilbert and producer Marc Samuelson. Brian and Marc first teamed up on Tom And Viv, which earned a clatter of Oscar nominations, if no prizes. The premiere's beneficiary, Outhouse, is the new Dublin community resource centre for the gay and lesbian community, and it boasts an impressive set of patrons and supporters including poet Brendan Kennelly, TDs Joe Costello and Proinsias De Rossa, playwright Frank McGuinness; and Patricia McKenna MEP. Looking further ahead, Cradle is hosting a premiere of Welcome To Sarajevo, the Michael Winterbottom film, on November 20th.