Heads spin in the hope of seeing a famous face. There's no sign of Pierce Brosnan, Jeremy Irons or Jennifer Jason Leigh (they're probably in Hollywood or somewhere). Where is the stars, as Captain Boyle might say, of a night? Limerick man Mark Mulqueen, the director of the Film Institute of Ireland, and Emma Keogh, from the Irish Film Archive, helpfully scan Mono, the venue on Wexford Street.
Is that Liz Hurley, they wonder, eyebrows lifting to high heavens in mischief. Nope, the launch of the Miller 16th Dublin Film Festival is a businesslike affair. The star-studded part will come on opening night, Friday, April 20th, no doubt.
Paul Taylor, the festival's programme director, is most pleased and proud of "our own discoveries", such as Big Eden, Kanadiana and Reunion. Brendan McCaul, vice-president and general manager of Buena Vista International, is curious to see the world premiere of If I Should Fall from Grace (The Shane MacGowan Story) on opening night. Ta Mairin Ni Chonarain and Maire Ni Neill "ag suil go mor leis an bhfeile". Charlotte McDaid and her husband, Donal McDaid, are also eagerly checking out the programme.
Also present is Robert J. Quinn, who has written The Black Suit, one of the festival's short films, while his friend, Tom Hall, is delighted to announce he'll be making an eight-part series called Bachelor's Walk with John and Kieran Carney for RTE. They start shooting next month. Later, directors Sarah Share, Kieran J. Walsh and Paddy Breathnach arrive.
The festival runs from the Friday night opening to Sunday, April 29th.