Irish Film Festival of Los Angeles 2008
The Irish Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFF), the first "stand-alone" Irish film fest to be presented in the city, begins today and runs until Sunday, October 5, at the Clarity Theater in Beverly Hills.
The festival will open with the West Coast premiere of Eden (to be distributed in the US by Liberation Entertainment). Directed by Declan Recks and adapted by Eugene O’Brien from his own play, Eden follows a small-town married couple as they prepare for their 10th anniversary. Eileen Walsh (best actress winner at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival) and Aidan Kelly star.
Also of particular interest are:
Tom Collins‘ Kings, the first Irish-language film ever submitted in the Academy Awards’ best foreign language film category. Kings, which earned a record 14 Irish Film and Television Award nominations in 2008, chronicles the lives of six ambitious Irishmen who’d once dreamed of becoming rich in the construction industry of 1970s London. Starring Colm Meaney, Donal O’Kelly, Brendan Conroy, Barry Barnes, and Donncha Crowley, Kings ended up winning five Irish Film awards, including best editing (Dermot Diskin) and best supporting actor (Conroy).
A rare screening of the 1964 drama The Luck of Ginger Coffey, starring Robert Shaw and Mary Ure. Directed by Irvin Kershner, who later moved to Hollywood (The Eyes of Laura Mars, The Empire Strikes Back), The Luck of Ginger Coffey is based on Belfast-born writer and Malibu resident Brian Moore’s autobiographical novel about an Irish emigrant longing for personal freedom.
The West Coast premiere of Louis Lentin’s Grandpa…. Speak to Me in Russian and Valerie Lapin’s Shalom Ireland. In the former, director Lentin uncovers his family’s history and the world of the Jewish shtetl, while in the latter director Lapin presents a portrait of Ireland’s small Jewish community, with a soundtrack that mixes traditional Irish and Klezmer sounds.
Gerard Hurley’s The Pride takes place in a small gypsy (aka "Irish traveler") community in Upstate New York, where a man (played by Hurley) returns from prison determined to win back his estranged wife (Nancy McNulty).
And three silent films:
- A newly-formatted HD version of John Ford’s 1924 epic Western about the building of the transcontinental railroad, The Iron Horse, starring George O’Brien and Madge Bellamy.
- Sidney Olcott’s 1910 production A Lad from Old Ireland, reportedly the first American production filmed abroad. The film is about an Irishman who returns to Ireland after making his fortune in the United States just in time to save his betrothed and her family as they’re about to be evicted from their land. A Lad from Old Ireland stars Olcott and Gene Gauntier.
- Norman Whitten’s 1920 quasi-religious drama In the Days of St. Patrick, about the 4th-century man who went from prince to slave to priest, and who is credited for converting pagan Ireland to Christianity. Whether that’s such a good thing is debatable, but this rare film is a must-see. Both Irish silents will be accompanied by composer and conductor Eimear Noone.
The Clarity Theater is located at 100 N. Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills. $3 parking at the theater is available through the entrance on Crescent Drive (one block north of Wilshire).
Tickets are available at www.lairishfilm.com.
SCHEDULED PROGRAM (Schedule and synopses from the Irish Film Festival press release)
Thursday, October 2, 2008
BUA directed by directed by Sonya Gildea and produced by Kirsten Sheridan- 13 minutes — 7pm
A young girl drives her horse at full gallop, but when, if ever, will she reach freedom?
EDEN directed by Declan Recks – 84 minutes (West Coast premiere)
Eden, directed by Declan Recks, is a new film from the producers of the Irish box office sensation,Once. The film follows a married couple in a picturesque Irish town as they prepare for their 10th anniversary and confront their fears of the future. A vivid portrayal of marriage and the vulnerability of love, the film features tour-de-force performances by Eileen Walsh (Best Actress, Tribeca Film Festival) and Aidan Kelly. Eden is written by Eugene O’Brien, and adapted from his play of the same name.
Opening Night Gala Reception featuring live music and performance from dancer-comedienne Máire Clerkin with excerpts from her show, The Bad Arm — Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer.
Friday, October 3, 2008
THE PRIDE directed by Gerard Hurley – 82 minutes — 4:00PM
The story takes place in a small Irish traveler (gypsy) community in up state New York. Mickey Reilly (Gerard Hurley) returns from prison determined to win back his estranged wife Sarah (Nancy McNulty). After years of a complex bitter sweet relationship and an episode of domestic violence, Sarah struggles to leave with their new born daughter for a safer world.
Q & A with Gerard Hurley
KINGS directed by Tom Collins – 88 minutes — 6:30PM
A universal story of disenfranchisement and search for identity. In the mid 1970s, a group of six young men left their homes in the West of Ireland, took the boat out of Dublin Bay and sailed across the sea to England in the hope of making their fortunes and returning home. Thirty years later only one, Jackie Flavin, makes it home – but does so in a coffin. Jackie’s five friends reunite at his wake where they are forced face up to the reality of their alienation as long term emigrants who no longer have any real place to call home.
Q & A with Tom Collins
DICK DICKMAN P.I. directed by Barry O’Neill – (US Premiere) — 9:00PM
Dick Dickman P.I. is the story of a hapless private detective who fumbles his way through his first case with each clue bringing him further and further away from solving it. We follow our anti hero as he haphazardly stumbles along meeting an array of crazy characters. Featuring the cream of Irish comedy including Patrick Bergin, Frank Carson, Brendan O’Carroll, June Rodgers, Jon Kenny, Joe Rooney, Alan Shortt, Louise Osbourne, Doreen Keogh, Paul Malone and Barry O’Neill as Dick Dickman.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
SHORTS PROGRAM 2:00pm
TEETH — Directors: Ruari O’Brian & John Kennedy
Producer: Noreen Donohoe
A short Last laugh tale of two old friends, their teeth and a series of events that leaves them lost for words.
JAMES – Writer -Director & Producer Connor Clements
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.
NEW BOY – Writer/Director Steph Green
Producer Tamara Anghie
Cast includes Olutunji Ebun-Cole & Simon O Driscoll
Based on a short story by Roddy Doyle this poignant and comedic short deftly captures the experience of being the new boy in school through the eyes of Joseph, a nine year old African boy.
PADDY TAKES A MEETING – Written & Directed by Dermott Petty
Cast includes: Kevin P Kearns, Bryan Glanney & Carolyn Palmer
A mans life is turned upside down by a Producers wish to change a part of Irish History so the movie can be marketed correctly
FRANKIE – Director Darren Thornton
Producer Colette Farrell
Frankie is fifteen and preparing for fatherhood. He is determined that he is going to be the best Dad ever, but as his day goes on, he starts to realize how difficult this will be for him.
UNDRESSING MY MOTHER – Director Ken Wardrop
Producers: Andrew Freedman, Kristin Brook Larson
A poignant documentary that explores a woman’s unique take on her aging and overweight body.
USELESS DOG – Director Ken Wardrop
Producer Andrew Freedman
A witty mini documentary about an inept dog.
RIGHT NOW LADIES AND GENTS – Director/Script John Paul Murphy
Producer Rebecca O’Flanagan
A darkly comic tale of a young man who is persecuted by an overzealous pub bouncer
DING SONG DENNY O’REILLY’S HISTORY OF IRELAND – Director Cathal Gaffney
Script Paul Woodfull
A tourist walks into a Dublin pub looking for directions and encounters Ding Dong Denny O’Reilly at the bar who insists on telling him the "real" history of Ireland over a number of pints.
THE LUCK OF GINGER COFFEY directed by Irvin Kershner (1964) – 100 mins – 3:30PM
Starring Robert Shaw and Mary Ure, the film is about Ginger Coffey (Shaw), his wife Vera (Ure) and their 14-year-old daughter, Paulie (McClintock) who have emigrated to Montreal from Ireland, in search of a better life. Ginger is an idealist and has no more success finding work than he did in his homeland. Based on Brian Moore’s autobiographical novel of the same name,The Luck of Ginger Coffey is an extremely well-crafted, sombre portrait of a dreamer longing for personal freedom.
Q & A with Irvin Kershner
WHEN HOPE AND HISTORY RHYMED produced by Kelly Candaele — 55 mins — 6:30PM
A documentary film on the Northern Ireland Peace Process following fifteen students from California on a political, intellectual and personal exploration while studying at Queens University, Belfast.
Q & A with Kelly Candaele, moderated by journalist Patricia Danaher
GRANDPA SPEAK TO ME IN RUSSIAN directed by Louis Lentin – 55 minutes — 8:30PM
"The story of a man who did not tell, or choose to tell his own story and of a boy who needed to know." Louis Lentin. In this moving docudrama Lentin reconstructs the life of his paternal grandfather, Kalman Solomon Lentin who came to live with his family in Ireland in 1936. In this personal film Lentin sets out, with his son Miki Lentin, to find out where the old folk came from, what was it like and if anything survived. Leaving Ireland and journeying through the Baltic countries he uncovers the inspiring story of his family and the lost world of the Jewish shtetl. The story unfolds with fascinating archive material and drawings illustrating their journey.
SHALOM IRELANDdirected by Valerie Lapin — 57 minutes
In the documentary Shalom Ireland, director Valerie Lapin reveals Ireland’s remarkable, yet little known Jewish community. Shalom Ireland chronicles the history of irish Jewry while celebrating the unique culture created by blending Irish and Jewish traditions. From gun running for the Irish Republican Army during Ireland’s War of Independence to smuggling fellow Jews escaping from the Holocaust into Palestine, Shalom Ireland tells the untold story of how Irish Jews participated in the creation of both Ireland and Israel.
Q & A with Louis Lentin and Valerie Lapin
Sunday October 5
LEARNING GRAVITY directed by Cathal Black – 70 mins — 11:00AM
An elegant, elegiac film on Thomas Lynch. Three generations of Lynchs work in the chain of Michigan funeral homes set up by Lynch’s father. But what marks Thomas out from the rest of the brood is that he is also a renowned poet and essayist whose work has won the prestigious American Book Award and has been in the final shortlist for the National Book Award one of the most eminent literary prizes in the United States. Lynch’s writing is noted for its thoughtfulness and dark humour and this film is shot through with the same acumen combined with a sharp sense of the absurd. The documentary is atmospherically shot combining family photographs and home movies with reconstructions and actuality footage and adds up to a lucid, entertaining and ultimately life-affirming take on death and what comes before and after.
THE IRON HORSE directed by John Ford B & W, Silent, 1924 — 133 minutes — 1:00PM
One of the great silent screen epic-scale westerns, portraying love, treachery and revenge, John Ford’s The Iron Horse is about the building of the transcontinental railroad. The film was one of Ford’s first major successes and was hugely influential on outdoor films that followed. Shot on location in Arizona in Ford’s beloved Monument Valley.
SHOOTING THE GREEN: Funding and Shooting in the Republic of Ireland — 4:00PM-5:30PM
How to tap into Ireland’s rich tax incentives for co-production of your feature, documentary, TV drama or animation made in Ireland. This panel discussion will cover development funding, production funding, equity & copyright in projects in an overview of the Section 431 funding available. Panelists include Jonathan Loughran, VP Irish Film Board, Louise Levinson, Financial & Co-production Consultant, Tara Halloran of the UK Film Council, Los Angeles, moderated by veteran international film and television financing attorney Bill Grantham of Greenberg Traurig.
7pm: Orchestral Live Event with Contemporary Music composition by Eimear Noone. Total Program 60 minutes
A LAD FROM OLD IRELAND — B & W — Silent – directed by Sidney Olcott (1910)
The film is the story of a boy who emigrated to America to escape destitution in Ireland. After success in America, he returns to Ireland to save his betrothed just as her family is being evicted from their land.
IN THE DAYS OF ST. PATRICK — B & W — Silent- directed by Norman Whitten (1920)
The film tells the story of 4th Century Saint Patrick — the prince who became a slave, the slave who became a priest, the priest who converted a nation.
RELIGULOUS, GIGANTIC, STILL WALKING: Toronto Film Festival 2008
Cinecon 2008 Recap by Allan Ellenberger
Venice Film Festival 2008 – Horizons
Venice Film Festival 2008: Out of Competition Line-Up
GOODBYE SOLO, 35 SHOTS OF RUM, Virna Lisi: Venice Film Festival 2008
THE BURNING PLAIN, INJU, PONYO ON THE CLIFF BY THE SEA: Venice Film Festival 2008
Marco Pontecorvo, Pier Paolo Pasolini: Venice Film Festival 2008
Venice Film Festival 2008 – Too Little Hollywood
George Clooney, Brad Pitt: 2008 Venice Film Festival
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