Hollywood actor Will Forte to attend Irish Film and Television Awards

Hollywood actor and star of upcoming Irish release Run & Jump, Will Forte, will be jetting into Dublin next week to attend the Irish Film and Television Awards and a special screening of Run & Jump which will mark the beginning of National Stroke Week organised by the Irish Heart Foundation, the national charity fighting heart disease and stroke.  The film opens in cinemas across Ireland on May 2nd.

The Emmy nominated actor who is well known for roles in the popular TV series ‘30 Rock’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ along with the Oscar nominated film Nebraska stars alongside Maxine Peake (Silk, ‘Shameless’) and the IFTA nominated Ed MacLiam (‘Holby City’) in Run & Jump.  The heartwarming film, which is Steph Green’s feature debut, follows the spirited and impossibly optimistic Vanetia (Peake) who is slowly rebuilding the life she loved following her husband’s (MacLiam) sudden personality-changing stroke.  Forte plays a buttoned-up American neuropsychologist who arrives in Ireland to stay with the family to observe Vanetia’s husband. But his continued presence in the house sets the family on course for an emotional collision.

Will is set to present an award at the IFTA’s on Saturday 5th April where Run & Jump is up for four awards (Best Film, Best Script, Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Editing).

He and his co-star Ed MacLiam, director Steph Green and writer Ailbhe Keogan will all attend a special preview screening of the film and will take part in a Q&A on Sunday 6th April in Light House Cinema, Dublin.  The screening marks the launch of National Stroke Week (6th – 13th April), organised by the Irish Heart Foundation which aims to promote stroke awareness and highlight the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) message through numerous events including the National Stroke Survivor Conference which will take place in Croke Park on April 10th.  For more see www.stroke.ie

The film, which was shot in Kerry, was co-written by Steph Green and Ailbhe Keogan who has experience of brain trauma within her own family.  It has a strong supporting cast which includes Sharon Horgan (Pulling, Dead Boss), Ruth McCabe (Philomena, My Left Foot) and Michael Harding (Silence, Black Ice). It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last year and since then has been selected for festivals across the globe and has won numerous accolades including the Best Irish Feature and Best First Feature awards at the Galway Film Fleadh and the Silver Spike award for Best Film at the Valladolid International Film Festival.

Run & Jump in out in Ireland on May 2nd.