TIFF: Kenneth Branagh breaks down in tears after 'Belfast' screening

WENN - World Entertainment News Network
Published Sep 13, 2021  •  1 minute read
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Jamie Dornan and Kenneth Branagh attend the "Belfast" Premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.
Jamie Dornan and Kenneth Branagh attend the "Belfast" Premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto. Photo by Emma McIntyre /Getty Images

Kenneth Branagh broke down in tears after his semi-autobiographical movie Belfast received a rapturous response upon its screening at the Toronto Film Festival.

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Branagh both wrote and directed the film, which stars Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Caitriona Balfe and Ciaran Hinds, and was overcome with emotion as he opened up about the inspiration for the movie during a Q&A session after the screening.

“I started writing this on March 23, but it had been brewing for a long time. Lockdown teaches you, whether you like it or not about the things that were precious, that were simple…” he said, before trailing off as he started crying.

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Branagh continued to add that the COVID-19 pandemic and its lockdowns led him to take a hard look at his life and his upbringing.

  1. Jessica Chastain attends the TIFF World Premiere Pre-Reception of
    Jessica Chastain attends the TIFF World Premiere Pre-Reception of "The Eyes Of Tammy Faye" during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Emma McIntyre /Getty Images for Searchlight Pic
  2. Left to right: Stephen Karam, Jayne Houdyshell, and Richard Jenkins attend
    Left to right: Stephen Karam, Jayne Houdyshell, and Richard Jenkins attend "The Humans" Premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Emma McIntyre /Getty Images
  3. Chris Sparling attends the
    Chris Sparling attends the "Lakewood" premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Jeremy Chan /Getty Images
  4. Left to right: Andrew Corkin, Colton Gobbo, Chris Sparling, Alex Lalonde, Phillip Noyce, and Zack Schiller attend the
    Left to right: Andrew Corkin, Colton Gobbo, Chris Sparling, Alex Lalonde, Phillip Noyce, and Zack Schiller attend the "Lakewood" premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Dominik Magdziak /Getty Images
  5. Alex Lalonde attends the
    Alex Lalonde attends the "Lakewood" premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Jeremy Chan /Getty Images
  6. Stephen Karam attends
    Stephen Karam attends "The Humans" premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Emma McIntyre /Getty Images
  7. Colton Gobbo attends the
    Colton Gobbo attends the "Lakewood" Premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Sept. 12, 2021 in Toronto.Photo by Dominik Magdziak /Getty Images
  8. Kenneth Welsh attends
    Kenneth Welsh attends "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  9. Bianca Rusu attends
    Bianca Rusu attends "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  10. Will Seatle Bowes attends
    Will Seatle Bowes attends "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  11. Actor Jamie Dornan poses as he arrives for the premiere of Belfast at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
    Actor Jamie Dornan poses as he arrives for the premiere of Belfast at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  12. Director Kenneth Branagh poses as he arrives for the premiere of Belfast at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
    Director Kenneth Branagh poses as he arrives for the premiere of Belfast at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  13. Bianca Rusu attends
    Bianca Rusu attends "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  14. John Christian Rosenlund and Nina Andresen-Borud attend
    John Christian Rosenlund and Nina Andresen-Borud attend "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  15. Don McKellar attends
    Don McKellar attends "The Middle Man" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  16. Amil Shivji and Steven Markovitz attend the
    Amil Shivji and Steven Markovitz attend the "Tug Of War" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  17. Co-Head and Artistic Director of TIFF and the Toronto International Film Festival Cameron Bailey attends the TIFF World Premiere Pre-Reception of
    Co-Head and Artistic Director of TIFF and the Toronto International Film Festival Cameron Bailey attends the TIFF World Premiere Pre-Reception of "The Eyes Of Tammy Faye" during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Emma McIntyre /Getty Images for Searchlight Pic
  18. Jazz pianist Oliver Jones poses as he arrives for the premiere of
    Jazz pianist Oliver Jones poses as he arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  19. Measha Brueggergosman arrives for the premiere of
    Measha Brueggergosman arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  20. Actor Jackie Richardson arrives for the premiere of
    Actor Jackie Richardson arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  21. Kelly Peterson, wife of late Oscar Peterson poses as she arrives for the premiere of
    Kelly Peterson, wife of late Oscar Peterson poses as she arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  22. Model Yasmin Warsame poses as she arrives for the premiere of
    Model Yasmin Warsame poses as she arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  23. Director Barry Avrich arrives for the premiere of
    Director Barry Avrich arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  24. Singer Jully Black poses as she arrives for the premiere of
    Singer Jully Black poses as she arrives for the premiere of "Oscar Peterson: Black + White" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Mark BlinchPhoto by MARK BLINCH /REUTERS
  25. Robi Botos attends the
    Robi Botos attends the "Oscar Peterson: Black And White" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  26. Barry Avrich and Marci Ien attend the
    Barry Avrich and Marci Ien attend the "Oscar Peterson: Black And White" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  27. Kardinal Offishall attends the
    Kardinal Offishall attends the "Oscar Peterson: Black And White" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images
  28. Denzal Sinclaire attends the
    Denzal Sinclaire attends the "Oscar Peterson: Black And White" Photo Call during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario.Photo by Juanito Aguil /Getty Images

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Belfast is already being tipped for awards season glory, after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month.

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