Excalibur

Arthurian mythology was never better portrayed on the big screen than by John Boorman in his epic retelling of the legend of Arthur Pendragon, the wizard Merlin, and the Knights of the Round Table. Shot in beautifully lush locations, in the days before CGI dominated the film world, it is exceptionally rare to see a film full of magic and wonder whilst looking so incredibly real. With a cast featuring the cream of the UK and Ireland’s film and theatre performers - Nigel Terry, Liam Neeson, Cherie Lunghi, Patrick Stewart and Gabriel Byrne to name a few - and standout performances from Helen Mirren as Morgan le Fay and Nicol Williamson as Merlin, Excalibur is as rich in its performances as it is glistening with shining armour and finery.

A visually breathtaking tale of swords and sorcery, to which a whole genre of cinema owes a great debt.

Photo: Carolyn Cole, LA Times

CIFF will present its Honorary Disruptor Award 2025 to filmmaker John Boorman followed by a screening of Zardoz at 20:00 on Tuesday 11 November at the Triskel.