THE DIRECTOR of Unlawful Killing, the controversial documentary about the death of Princess Diana, has welcomed the intense interest shown in the first public screening at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in August 1997, which also killed Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.
“Galway is a ‘knowing’ audience, and that’s for sure,” Keith Allen told The Irish Times. “I’ve been at the Galway fleadh for two years on the trot and am really pleased that it was premiering there.”
The documentary would require “80 cuts on average” if it were to be screened in Britain and he would be “in contempt of court” if it was shown there.
The documentary includes interviews and reconstructions of the six-month inquest in 2008, where a jury concluded that Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed.
The actor and comedian, who directs, narrates and appears in the film, contends there was a conspiracy after the accident involving an extensive cover-up.
He acknowledges that the documentary was funded by Fayed’s father, Mohammed Al-Fayed, who is interviewed, and who had accused Prince Philip of masterminding the crash. He has alleged there were attempts to prevent Diana from marrying his Muslim son.
Allen reiterates that he had spent six months seeking funding from other organisations. “I only took his funding on the understanding that he didn’t interfere with any editorial decisions.”
He says he had no idea the official inquest was going to be “steered” in the manner it was.
He had placed his own undercover representative within the press corps. The film reconstructs what are claimed to be comments by British journalists during the hearings which suggested there was a “media consensus” reflecting the establishment view.
John Michael McDonagh's comedy thriller, The Guard, starring Brendan Gleeson, also received its Irish premiere at the film fleadh last night. Gleeson is due to mark the 10th anniversary of the national Cinemobile in Galway today.
Super8 Shots, Ireland's only eight millimetre film festival, is collaborating with the fleadh this weekend. It is screening the Galway Wonder Years, comprising archival footage taken by amateur film makers of events such as president John F Kennedy's visit to Galway in 1963 and the great Galway fire of 1971.