Irish Film Institute -13 Irish LGBT+ Shorts and Docs Launch for Free on the IFI Player to Celebrate Pride Month

13 Irish LGBT+ Shorts and Docs Launch for Free on the IFI Player to Celebrate Pride Month

To celebrate Pride month, the Irish Film Institute has released a new collection of Irish LGBT+ short films that are now free to view globally on the IFI Player.

Following the success of the IFI Player’s most recent initiative, The Irish Adverts Project, which amassed over a quarter of a million views in less than three days, the IFI are delighted to introduce a new category to its digital platform which celebrates talented Irish filmmakers focussing on a variety of LGBT+ themes.

Speaking on the category’s launch, IFI Player Coordinator Aaron Healy, commented, “We are thrilled to be able to add this new collection of LGBT+ shorts to the IFI Player. There is such a wealth of talented filmmakers in Ireland who have made and continue to produce acclaimed films and documentaries on gay issues and themes. In particular, we would like to thank TENI and BelongTo for their contribution to this collection. We hope in addition to the wealth of other films and content on the IFI Player, it will also become a destination for all LGBT+ Irish films, so that they can reach a large global audience for generations to come.”

Highlights of the collection include:

I am
Directed by Anna Rodgers and produced by Zlata Filipovic, this beautiful and poignant film commissioned by TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland) is a conversational piece which explores gender identity and transgender experiences in Ireland.

Me First
Me First is a story about an unhappily married woman who finds comfort in the arms of her daughter’s college friend. The film is directed by Leanne Byrne and stars Ray Reilly, Seaná Woods, Siobhan Bolton and Niamh Walsh.

Chicken
Chicken is a micro-drama about two boys hanging out on a beach at dusk. A game of dare tests the limits of their trust and redefines the boundaries of their relationship. Directed and produced by Barry Dignam and based on a screenplay by Audrey O’Reilly, this short focusses on the difficulty that young gay men often have in expression affection for one another.

Hold on Tight
Directed by Anna Rodgers, producer of The Story of Yes, and winner of the 2011 Absolut Gaze Filmmakers Award, this beautiful short documentary explores how gay and lesbian couples show affection, and how small interactions like holding hands in public can carry, not only huge personal significance, but also the power to create social change.

James
Young James struggles as the outsider kid at his school. His teacher, Mr. Sutherland, is the only person he feels he can connect with. When James finally puts a voice to his feelings, Mr. Sutherland’s response isn’t what James had hoped for.

The films can be viewed now for free right here.

Full list of Films below:

A Ferret called Mickey – Barry Dignam
Chicken – Barry Dignam –
Dream Kitchen – Barry Dignam
James – Conor Clements
Me First – Leanne Byrne
Novena – Anna Rodgers
I AM – Anna Rodgers
Stand up- for your Friends – Zlata Filipovic
Stand up- Bullying – Zlata Filipovic
Hold on Tight – Anna Rodgers
Coming Out Of the West – Cian Tracey
No Strings – Eoin Maher

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