The British and Irish Film Festival
The British and Irish Film Festival runs in Dunedin from 30 October to 19 November 2025. So far I’ve been lucky to catch three unique pieces: 'The Golden Spurtle', 'Twiggy', and 'Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man'.
'The Golden Spurtle' follows the World Porridge Making Championship in Carrbridge, Scotland, tracking competitors, organisers, and volunteers through the build-up and the event itself. It’s a quietly engaging documentary full of observational whimsy finding character in skill, tradition, and community.
'Twiggy' traces the rise of a working-class girl from north London whose mod-era, androgynous look and authentic charm captivated a generation. The film follows her from teen model to Golden Globe–winning actor in The Boy Friend (1971), on to singer and designer. She reflects on fame, love, and her multivariate talents. To this day Twiggy is always learning, chasing her passions, and never standing still.
“The people of Ballymurphy never went to war … the war came to us.” 'Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man' is an autobiographical portrait of a man forged from modern Ireland’s most turbulent eras. From his working-class Belfast upbringing to the political upheaval around him, Adams speaks about his life, the community that shaped him, the Irish peace process, and lessons learned: “Politics is not worth anything unless it empowers people.” Criticism comes from many directions — unionists, British officials, fellow republicans, and neutral observers — highlighting that even in reflection, personal history, responsibility, and the forces that shaped him remain complex: “I have never disassociated myself from the IRA and I never will … that isn’t to say that the IRA were right all the time. The IRA did things that should not have been done.”
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