Film as Art: Brian Desmond Hurst, Film Director exhibition

As Northern Ireland’s film industry thrives and continues to attract investment and creativity, now is an apt time to celebrate the life and work of a man who is often hailed as one of Northern Ireland’s best film directors, Brian Desmond Hurst (1895-1986).

Throughout his life, Hurst championed film as an art form. Born into a shipyard working-class family in east Belfast, Hurst went on to become a product of Hollywood’s Golden Age of Film. His filmmaking portfolio was extensive and well-respected internationally, with over thirty films in his portfolio ranging in themes from war to comedy, horror to historical fiction. He is perhaps best known for the 1951 'A Christmas Carol' adaptation Scrooge.

This exhibition will show film posters, invitations, lobby cards, original press clippings from Hurst’s own scrapbooks, film footage and photographs - all of which is on loan from the estate of Brian Desmond Hurst and other friends - all to showcase Hurst’s remarkable achievements. 

The exhibition is sponsored by Quartertoten Productions Ltd in conjunction with the Brian Desmond Hurst Estate.

Hurst’s film ‘A Letter from Ulster’ can be viewed during the Summer in the Lecture Theatre as part of ‘The Blitz in Belfast’ display.