The Irish Reels Film Festival, a forum for features, shorts, and documentaries by independent Irish filmmakers, will present three days of film screenings in Seattle, on September 25th, 26th and 27th, 2015. The Irish Film Industry is thriving and the Irish Reels Film Festival is excited to be able to share with Northwest audiences the powerful and moving work of the best of new Irish cinema.
Now in its 18th year, the festival kicks off on Friday night, September 25th, at 6:00PM at the SIFF Film Center with an Opening Night Gala co-hosted by Irish Network Seattle. At 7:30PM the feature presentation is the highly acclaimed Patrick’s Day, Terry McMahon’s provocative and heart-breaking love story about the right to intimacy for everyone. Winner of the Director’s Guild of America ‘Finders Series’ Award among others, director Terry McMahon is scheduled to attend. The feature will be preceded by the award winning short Céad Ghrá.
On Saturday at 2:00pm the day begins with a Senior Presentation of John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man. Narrated by Gabriel Byrne and with extensive interviews with Maureen O’ Hara and other aficionados of John Ford the documentary is followed by yet another film on the mesmerizing effect of Connemara on Hollywood. It Came from Connemara , which screens at 4:00pm, captures the five year creative output of Roger Corman and his studio in the west of Ireland.
The evening films take audiences first on a journey to Glasnevin cemetery for the story of One Million Dubliners at 6:00pm, and then to Northern Ireland for the adrenaline-fueled tale of a family who have dominated road racing for over thirty years. The 8:00pm screening of Road narrated by Liam Neeson is preceded by the Academy Award nominated short film Boogaloo & Graham.
Sunday’s lineup kicks off at 1:00pm with a Family Presentation of Cartoon Saloon’s stunning Academy Award nominated, animated feature Song of the Sea. Six new award winning short films are highlighted in the afternoon Shorts Program at 3:00pm. The Suffering Kind, The Weather Report, The Abandoning, Anywhere but Here, Shoot, and The Swing make up the programme. Acclaimed filmmaker Daisy Asquith tells the story of her journey back to Ireland to unlock a family secret in her documentary After the Dance, at 5:00pm.
The closing night film at 7:30pm is Gerard Barrett’s Glassland. Set in Dublin Glassland tells the story of a young taxi driver who gets tangled up in the world of human trafficking while trying to save his mother from addiction. One of the most critically lauded films at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, the film garnered raves for its two leads, Toni Collette and Jack Reynor, with the latter’s performance earning him a Special Jury Prize.
Screenings are at the SIFF Film Center. A full Festival Pass is $90 General ($80 for IHC and IN Seattle members). $12 general admission. $15 for Opening Night. The Special Senior presentation John Ford: Dreaming the Quiet Man is $10/$5 senior discount. The Special Family presentation of Song of the Sea is $10/$20 Family of Four. Full festival passes and individual tickets are available through SIFF Film Center and at the door 30 minutes before show times.