The third day of the seventh edition of the IrishFilmFesta features the screening of Bernadette: Notes on a Political Journey, in the presence of its director Lelia Doolan on Saturday 29 March at 15.30.

Doolan's in-depth perspective follows the tumultuous political career of activist Bernadette Devlin McAliskey who rose to prominence thanks to her central role in student-led civil rights marches in Northern Ireland in 1968.

Within a year she was elected a member of parliament for Mid-Ulster as a 21-year-old student, becoming the youngest woman elected to Westminster, a title she holds to this day. Described variously as an "Irish Joan of Arc" or Fidel Castro in a miniskirt", Devlin McAliskey has fought for civil rights as a feminist, socialist and republican.

Completed over nine years, Doolan's documentary examines the activist's work and ideas, as well as her personal and political background. The 2011 film includes highly-charged archive footage interspersed with extracts from a series of more recent interviews.

Doolan will speak at the event in Rome alongside Italian journalist and writer Silvia Calamati.

The documentary, which is being screened in its original language with Italian subtitles, will be preceded by the short film The Daisy Chain.

The IrishFilmFesta take places from 27-30 March at the Casa del Cinema, in the Via Veneto corner of Villa Borghese.

For full details see website.