Belfast (film)

Belfast
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKenneth Branagh
Written byKenneth Branagh
Produced by
  • Laura Berwick
  • Kenneth Branagh
  • Becca Kovacik
  • Tamar Thomas
Starring
CinematographyHaris Zambarloukos
Edited byÚna Ní Dhonghaíle
Music byVan Morrison
Production
company
TKBC
Distributed byFocus Features (United States)
Universal Pictures (International)
Release dates
  • 2 September 2021 (2021-09-02) (Telluride)
  • 21 January 2022 (2022-01-21) (United Kingdom)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom[2][3]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10–15 million[4]
Box office$49 million[5][6]

Belfast is a 2021 British coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. The film stars Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan and Jude Hill. The film, which Branagh has described as his "most personal", follows a young boy's childhood in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the beginning of The Troubles in 1969.[7]

Belfast had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on 2 September 2021; shortly thereafter, it won the People's Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was released in the United States on 12 November 2021 by Focus Features,[8] and in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 21 January 2022, by Universal Pictures. It received generally positive reviews from critics for Branagh's direction and screenplay, cinematography, and the performances of the cast, and grossed over $49 million worldwide.

The film received seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning for Best Original Screenplay. It was named one of the best films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and tied with The Power of the Dog for a leading seven nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, and won for Best Screenplay. It also tied with West Side Story for a leading eleven nominations at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture, and also received six nominations at the 75th British Academy Film Awards, winning Outstanding British Film.

  1. ^ "Belfast". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ Halligan, Fionnuala (15 September 2021). "'Belfast': Review". Screendaily. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Belfast (2021)". Gateway Film Center. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  4. ^ Jolin, Dan (11 January 2022). "How the Covid lockdown inspired Kenneth Branagh to make 'Belfast'". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 28 April 2023. 'between $10m and $15m', Branagh discloses
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference BOM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference NUM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (16 December 2020). "Kenneth Branagh's Drama 'Belfast' Lands at Focus Features". Variety. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (17 March 2021). "Focus Features Sets Fall Release For Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.