Equinox

A LIVE archive film and music performance, from musician RÓIS and filmmaker Stuart Sloan. The equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of Autumn and is the day when the sun illuminates the northern and southern hemispheres of the earth equally. In Ireland it is a date steeped in rituals, traditions and folklore spanning thousands of years; from the alignment of Neolithic structures to the sun, the pagan festival of Mabon, to harvest practices and traditions.

Using archive film sourced from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive and BBC Rewind, the film moves chronologically through both the eons of time, and a single harvest day in Ireland - weaving together astrological visuals, standing stones, the abundance of nature and harvests past.

These visuals are mixed live, to accompany an extraordinary score composed and performed by RÓIS, an Irish composer, multi-instrumentalist and performer whose songs explores diverse modes of expression; forging an idiosyncratic blend of folk and Sean-nós, electronics, jazz harmony and extended vocal techniques. The soundtrack uses traditional songs and instruments along-side experimental sounds, as well as incorporating clips from the Ulster Folk Museum sound archives.

This event was originally commissioned for the Ulster Folk Museum and supported with funds from BFI/Film Audience Network.

To book tickets visit Belfast Film Festival website: https://belfastfilmfestival.org/whats-on

For access information on the venue visit the Black Box website (the event is in the main venue space): https://www.blackboxbelfast.com/accessibility-faq/

The Black Box

18-22 Hill Street

Belfast

BT1 2LA

November 8, 2025, 8:00 - 10:00 PM

Explore thousands of BBC archive clips from Northern Ireland and across the UK at bbcrewind.co.uk