JULY 2015
IFI International returns to the Galway Film Fleadh to discuss distribution of Irish film through international cultural channels and to create a space where festival programmers, film-makers, and funders can meet.
The session will include presentations from film-makers and exhibitors; will identify funding and other resources available to international exhibitors of Irish film;discuss plans for 1916/2016 programmes; and will invite contributions from attendees on a range of festival experiences.
Chaired by Sunniva O’Flynn (IFI Head of Irish Film Programming)
Speakers include:
Frank Berry (Director, Ballymun Lullaby, I Used to Live Here)
Kelly O’Connor (Director, Irish Film London)
Soracha Pelan Ó Treasaigh (IFI International Co-ordinator)
Christine Sisk (Director, Culture Ireland)
Tea and coffee provided.
Friday July 10 // Joyce Suite, Radisson BLU Hotel // 3.30p.m. – 5.00p.m.
If you would like to attend please contact Soracha Pelan Ó Treasaigh spelanotreasaigh@irishfilm.ie
MARCH 2015
IFI international brings Irish film around the world all year round, but March is an especially busy time. More than 50 Irish films (new and classic) drawn from the IFI Irish Film Archive and elsewhere winged their way to over 20 events in 16 countries to celebrate Irish cinema for St. Patrick’s Day across the globe.
Well-established festivals returned to major cities around Europe, including the 8th edition of the Irish Film Festa, Rome (March 26th- 27th) which featured 15 shorts in competition and a tribute to Lenny Abrahamson; the third Belgrade Irish Fest (14th – 24th) which opened with Frank and featured the classic titles, Angel and Once; and Berlin’s celebrations continued to grow with this year’s Shebeen Flick (11th – 17th) presenting German premieres of Standby, Pilgrim Hill and Gold and classics I Went Down and a 25th anniversary screening of My Left Foot. A real treat for audiences was a rare opportunity to see the silent Come on Over (1922) at the historic Stummfilmkino Delphi, with live musical accompaniment.
Working with our FIAF (International Federation of Film Archives) colleagues at the Danish Film Institute, an Irish film season took place between the 5th – 15th screening The Pipe, Good Vibrations, Rocky Road to Dublin and Calvary, in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland in Denmark.
Beyond Europe, the Irish Film Festival in Moscow (11th– 22nd)expanded this year to include a documentary strand with classics, including the recent hit One Million Dubliners. The Irish Pub director Alex Fegan traveled to Kiev for the 5th Molodist Kyiv Irish Fest (12th – 18th) which also showed comedies Life’s A Breeze, Standby and The Stag.
We were delighted to present a major retrospective of Irish cinema (12th – 19th) with the Embassy of Ireland at the prestigious Cineteca Nacional, Mexico. The programme included Song of the Sea, Price of Desire, Calvary, His & Hers and In the Name of the Father.
Irish Film Festival Boston (19th – 22nd) celebrated its 15th edition, presenting over 30 films. The Festival’s award winners included Best Feature award winner Gold, with director Niall Heery in attendance, and the special Jury Prize winner An Bronntanas. Documentaries included Blood Fruit, and Directors Choice Award winner One Million Dubliners which was presented by director Aoife Kelleher and producer Rachel Lysaght.
Further afield, two new Irish Festivals had their first outings this year, with the inaugural Sydney Irish Film Festival and the first Irish Film Festival Ottawa both taking place at the end of March. Sydney audiences had a chance to see Australian premieres of Out of Here, Living in a Coded Land, and director Paula Kehoe presented An Dubh ina Gheal (Assimilation) about the connection between Irish and Aboriginal people in Australia. Screenings in Ottawa included Song of the Sea, The Stag, Pilgrim Hill, An Piopa (The Pipe) and Kisses.
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