BEST (George Best: All By Himself) Opens in Cinemas
Date Posted: February 24, 2017
Today (Friday 24th February) marks the release of the George Best biopic BEST (George Best: All By Himself) in 22 screens across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland today. The release follows the film’s Irish premiere in Belfast and a special screening at the Audi Dublin International Film Festival last week.
BEST (George Best: All By Himself) received funding from Northern Ireland Screen with support from Invest NI.
George Best remains one of the most naturally gifted footballers there has ever been. Famously called the ‘best player in the world’ by Pelé, Best galvanised Manchester United’s five-year recovery from the tragedy of the Munich air crash in 1958. His skill and exuberance inspired them to win league titles and the European Cup, even though he was little more than a teenager. Tragically, his career in the upper echelons of sport was over before he turned 29, the result of his bruising battle with alcoholism and the crushing pressure of modern fame.
Producer John Battsek (2016’s Oscar-nominated Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom, The Imposter, Project Nim) and director Daniel Gordon re-team after their acclaimed, Emmy-nominated ESPN Films’ documentary Hillsborough to deliver a heart-breaking portrait of one of the world’s truly great sporting talents. The biopic was commissioned by the BBC and made by Fine Point Films (the acclaimed team behind Bobby Sands: 66 Days).
The documentary had its world premiere at the BFI London International Film Festival in October, was produced by Trevor Birney, John Battsek and Brendan J. Byrne for Fine Point Films, Passion Pictures, VeryMuchSo Productions and ESPN Films.
BEST (George Best: All By Himself) will open in the following cinemas today:
- Brunswick Movie Bowl
- IMC Enniskillen
- Movie House Coleraine
- Movie House Dublin Road
- Movie House Yorkgate
- Odeon Belfast
- Odyssey Belfast
- Omniplex Derry
- Omniplex Dundonald
- Omniplex Kennedy Centre
- Omniplex Newry
- Queens Film Theatre
