This month's Dublin Film Festival (April 20-29) kicks off with Wild About Harry, the debut feature from Declan Lowney, the Irish director better known for his work on UK TV series such as Cold Feet and Father Ted.

Written by Ireland's most prolific screenwriter, Colin Bateman, the Northern Ireland-set comedy stars Brendan Gleeson as an obnoxious TV cook who has an accident on the eve of his divorce and becomes his more likeable self from 25 years earlier.

The opening evening will also have the late night world premiere of feature-length documentary, If I Should Fall From Grace, about the legendary and notorious life and times of singer songwriter, Shane McGowan. The film has been acquired for release in Ireland by Buena Vista International.

US indie films have a strong presence with titles including Big Eden, Bruised Orange, Drop Back Ten and the Dogme-certified Reunion. Canada is also well represented by Kanadiana, Possible Worlds, Ginger Snaps, Maelstrom and Pandora's Beauty.

Other left-field entries include Mexican Foreign Oscar nominee Amores Perros, while several mainstream titles are getting an outing ahead of their cinema release in Ireland. Amongst the previews are Best In Show, Blow Dry and Dr T & The Women. Retrospective screenings include Richard Lester's reissued Beatles documentary A Hard Day's Night